The Supreme Court has ruled that legal heirs automatically become landlords after the death of a property owner and that tenants do not need to sign a new rent agreement in such cases.
A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi held that succession operates by law, meaning legal heirs step into the role of the landlord without any fresh tenancy contract or formal attornment.
The court dismissed appeals filed by tenants challenging a Sindh High Court order that directed them to vacate the premises. It found no illegality or jurisdictional defect in the high court’s decision.
In its judgment, the Supreme Court said tenants are legally bound to recognize the lawful heirs as landlords and pay rent to them once notice of succession is served. The court rejected the argument that rent could be withheld because the claimant was only one of several heirs, calling the plea untenable.
The bench further ruled that continued deposit of rent in the name of a deceased landlord after receiving notice of succession amounts to willful default and can lead to eviction.
The court concluded that the legal heirs became landlords immediately upon the original landlord’s death and upheld the eviction order against the tenants.
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