Last updated on February 24th, 2025 at 05:56 am
The Bengaluru rental market has been put under the scanner after a startup founder, Shravan Tickoo, shared the disturbing story of a couple’s ordeal with their landlord. The post, published on LinkedIn, throws light on the challenges that tenants face in the city and sheds light on what Tickoo describes as “modern-day exploitation” by landlords, especially those renting to non-native residents.
The Couple’s Ordeal with the Landlord
The couple had rented a 2BHK apartment in a gated community for Rs 55,000 per month. They had been regular with their payment of the rent but were constantly dealing with problems with the property. Water leakages in the apartment went for weeks without being addressed, and the landlord never seemed bothered about it. The couple says that the landlord refused to address the issue directly and instead conveyed a message through the maintenance staff, stating, “It’s your headache to fix it.”
Tired of inaction, the couple spent more than Rs 1 lakh of their own money to repair the water damage. When they decided to vacate the apartment, the landlord withheld their Rs 1.75 lakh security deposit citing “maintenance requirements” without giving further reasons. The couple tried to solve the problem and found that there was no legal recourse. The couple was compelled to vacate the property without getting their deposit back.
It was a case of a pattern of exploitation in Bengaluru’s rental market as argued by Tickoo. In this, Tickoo pointed out that though landlords often charge exorbitant rents, they hardly bother about basic responsibilities. He said that while landlords always respond to rent demands, they never do so in case of some issue in an apartment with tenants.
Tickoo concluded with a word of caution for those moving to Bengaluru, urging them to exercise care when letting or buying property. “This city of dreams can turn into a nightmare in a matter of seconds,” he said. He suggested that people in the future will be very keen to deal with landlords and owners of property who respect their tenants and fulfill their obligations.
Emerging Concerns over Bengaluru’s Housing Market
The post has also been noticed to provoke a broader debate on rising frustration with Bengaluru’s housing market. Tenants feel that it lacks accountability, and it’s really hard to find fair and responsible landlords. A lot of young professionals and students keep moving into the city. So, more rental properties mean the hike in prices; now, these factors raise an alarm regarding affordability and tenants’ rights.