'Bengaluru landlords are a menace': Landlord deducts Rs 82K from deposit with no proof, tenant left stunned

Economic Times

15 hours ago

A Bengaluru-based entrepreneur recently took to LinkedIn to narrate an upsetting experience involving his landlord, triggering a wave of responses from others who had faced similar issues across Indian cities. The businessman, who had recently relocated from his previous residence, shared how his security deposit of Rs 1.5 lakh was returned only in part—with more than half being withheld under unclear justifications.According to his detailed account, he had occupied a two-bedroom apartment for two years. Throughout his tenancy, he never had any direct contact with the landlord. All interactions were conducted through a building manager, who acted as the middleman. The entrepreneur recalled having heard rumors about the landlord's past behavior with former tenants. Although this had mentally prepared him for possible issues, the scale and nature of the deductions still caught him off guard.When it was time to vacate, the deductions began pouring in. A sum of Rs 55,000 was taken out for repainting, Rs 25,000 labeled under ambiguous 'miscellaneous damages,' and an additional Rs 2,000 charged merely for using the lift. The tenant asked for detailed bills to understand the charges, only to be handed an unprofessional, handwritten sheet listing vague reasons without supporting documents or receipts.In the end, he received Rs 68,000 back—barely 45% of the initial deposit. Reflecting on the situation, the entrepreneur acknowledged his own lapse in not investigating the landlord's history or setting clear contractual terms beforehand. However, he emphasized that the broader issue lies in the unregulated and often exploitative behavior of property owners in the city."I hope there's change. I hope there's help. And I hope this reaches the people who can do something about it.Because Bengaluru landlords are becoming a menace..." he wrote.His post concluded with a plea for change, expressing frustration at the growing difficulties tenants face in Bengaluru and hoping that greater awareness might eventually prompt reforms in the rental space. The story struck a chord with many, as dozens of commenters came forward to share similar experiences, not just from Bengaluru but across India.One commenter noted facing a comparable ordeal in Chennai, where their landlord deducted a large portion of the deposit without transparency. Another mentioned losing Rs 1 lakh out of a Rs 4 lakh deposit and described the emotional distress of trying to reclaim what was rightfully theirs.Another comment read, "This is a common story in Bengaluru, where more than 50% of your deposit will be deducted for silly reasons without any justification. Another great part is that the deposit taken is a huge amount, not just 2-3 months of rent.