Can a tenant become the owner of the same house?
In India, a tenant may claim house ownership after staying for 12 continuous years. This is known as adverse possession of property. Tenants filing ownership claims under adverse possession generally arise when the lease expires or the landlord defaults on the rent agreement clauses.

After how many years can a tenant become an owner?
According to the Limitation Act of 1963, the period for claiming ownership of private property is 12 years, while for public property, it is extended to 30 years.

In which scenarios tenants cannot claim ownership of a house?
There are specific exceptions to the notion of adverse possession:
If the property owner serves in the armed forces
If the property owner is a minor
If the property owner is mentally incapacitated

Supreme Court ruling on tenant rights
A 2012 Supreme Court ruling states that a tenant can enjoy a peaceful stay for at least five years if they meet the following conditions:

The tenant agrees to pay the rent at current market rates
The tenant agrees to pay the rent with a 10 percent increase every three years
This ruling came as a model tenant-landlord agreement to bring down the litigation rates at all levels.

In conclusion, a tenant can claim ownership of a house through adverse possession law if certain conditions are met. However, having a rent agreement and understanding the legal rights of the tenant and landlord can prevent disputes and protect both parties. Thus, landlords must maintain regular contact with their tenants and take prompt action in case of lease violations or unauthorised occupancy.

Yes, a tenant cannot claim ownership through adverse possession because their possession is permissive, not hostile. Adverse possession requires continuous, open, and hostile possession without the owner's consent, which is not applicable in a landlord-tenant relationship.

A tenant cannot claim ownership by adverse possession because their possession is with the landlord’s permission. To succeed, the tenant must prove that after the lease ended, they stayed on the property openly, hostilely, and without permission for 12 continuous years, acting as an owner. Just staying long or not paying rent is not enough. Courts require clear evidence like denying the landlord’s title, paying property taxes, or improving the property. Most such claims fail due to the high legal burden.