Rental crisis in Bengaluru: Rising costs, hostile landlords making life miserable?

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The demand for rental houses in Bengaluru is increasing daily. Landlords are making unreasonable demands, taking advantage of the high demand and guaranteed tenancy. Even if they find tenants who meet these criteria, some landlords exploit them without hesitation. A recent incident involving a family renting a house in Bengaluru has sparked a discussion on social media. Besides paying a hefty rent, the family had to bear the cost of repairing the house's damages from their own pockets.
Shravan Tikku, a startup founder, shared the plight of a couple he knows through a LinkedIn post. The family rented a two-bedroom flat for Rs 55,000 per month in a premium Bengaluru society, necessitating the high rent. They also paid Rs 1.75 lakh as security deposit and paid the rent diligently every month.
However, soon after moving in, they discovered significant damage to the property; leakage and plumbing issues were common. They approached the landlord to address these problems, but he refused. He insisted they find and pay for repairs themselves, claiming that tenants are responsible for all issues arising in the house.
Unable to find alternative accommodation easily, they hired repairmen, hoping to recover the costs later. They spent over Rs 1 lakh on repairs. The landlord, however, refused to reimburse them. When the couple decided to move out after some time, the landlord further demonstrated his ruthlessness. He informed them via text message that he wouldn't return the security deposit, citing necessary maintenance for the flat. Even after the tenants requested a refund of the remaining amount after deducting one month's rent, the landlord refused. Despite seeking legal advice, the couple found little chance of recovering their money. Ultimately, they had to leave the house, abandoning both the repair costs and the security deposit.
Shravan's post highlights that this is the situation many people face who have moved to Bengaluru from other places seeking better opportunities. Landlords frequently increase rent without hesitation. Many people are sharing similar negative experiences in the comments section.