Searching for rental apartments can be a daunting task, especially for single individuals. The difficulties increase further due to the prevailing preference among landlords for families over single tenants. Adding fuel to the fire, a landlord recently turned to the popular online platform Reddit, to share alarming images of a run-down apartment. The post was titled as “Why Why landlords don’t rent to Bachelors and take security deposit.”
Later a Twitter user shared images, sourced from Reddit, showcasing the deplorable state of the apartment in Bengaluru. The photographs revealed an appalling sight, with the living space in a filthy condition, littered with glass bottles. The kitchen appeared neglected, covered in layers of dust, discolored tiles, and grimy drawers.
Commenting on the situation, the Twitter user highlighted the alleged actions of an “educated” bachelor employed at a “large MNC” as a possible reason behind landlords’ reluctance to rent to single individuals in Bangalore.
Although the original Reddit post has been removed, the comments section remains intact, sparking an extensive discussion and debate on Bengaluru’s renting policies. Numerous individuals voiced their disgust at the deplorable state of the apartment, expressing their concern. However, some participants in the conversation emphasized that it is important not to generalize all tenants based on the actions of a few.
A Reddit user raised a thought-provoking point, highlighting the apparent inconsistency in landlords’ policies regarding security deposits in Bengaluru. The user questioned whether the assumption is that only bachelors in Bengaluru pose a significant risk, while bachelors in other cities are considered ideal tenants. Additionally, they remarked that based on the provided photo, the cleaning required would likely cost a maximum of 5,000 rupees. If there were any damages to the walls, repainting a 2BHK apartment would amount to 15,000-20,000 rupees at most. The user further questioned why landlords in Bangalore often request deposits equivalent to 6-10 months’ rent, whereas owners in other cities generally do not exceed 4 months. They emphasized that this aspect, rather than other arguments, is the real issue at hand, dismissing alternative explanations as “mere gaslighting.”
In the Reddit post, which has since been deleted, the landlord shared the details of the rental agreement for the 2BHK apartment. According to the landlord, the monthly rent for the apartment was set at Rs 17,000, and a security deposit of Rs 85,000 was collected from the tenant. However, after paying rent for approximately 3-4 months, the tenant suddenly disappeared and contacted the landlord, expressing a desire to vacate the flat. The landlord found this behavior suspicious and decided to inspect the apartment. To their surprise, they discovered that the tenant had left without even closing the windows, raising further concerns about their sudden departure.
