'Rs 20k rent, Rs 2 lakh deposit’: Netizens slam steep rental deposits in Bengaluru - ‘Jaago tenant, jaago'

Bengaluru

A Reddit post lamenting the exorbitant rental deposits in Bengaluru has once again struck a nerve among the city’s renters, igniting a fresh wave of frustration and social media backlash.

The post, which simply read “2L deposit for 20k rent?”, quickly went viral, garnering hundreds of upvotes and triggering a deluge of responses that ranged from incredulous to painfully relatable. While some users shared their own harrowing stories of renting in the Karnataka capital, others took to humour and sarcasm to cope with what many see as a broken system.

A user pointed out that Bengaluru’s practice of demanding deposits equivalent to 10 months’ rent isn’t just widespread — it’s also disturbingly accepted as the norm. “Janta is so exploited that 10 months rent equivalent Security is fine and common for them. Jaago tenant jaago,” one comment read, summing up the sentiment.

Another added that while other cities like Pune and Hyderabad typically ask for a 2-3 month deposit, Bengaluru’s rental culture makes it especially difficult for newcomers or fresh graduates to find affordable accommodation.

Social media platforms buzzed with reactions. One Redditor wrote, “Same in Chennai. Our house rent was 26k and we had to deposit 2.6L. They follow a 10 month advance policy,” highlighting the current rent trend in cities. Another remarked, “Stop accepting it. Imagine 10 guys in a row saying no to this nonsense deposit. Owner would definitely budge.”

The 10-month deposit “rule”, although unwritten, has long been defended by property owners who cite high maintenance and repair costs as justification. As per a user quoted in the HT, landlords argue that “it is very difficult to recover damages from the tenants” and that expensive fixtures like fans, geysers, switches and even basic repainting justify the hefty sum. One also pointed out that in other cities, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) have more control, even requiring No Objection Certificates before letting out flats — a level of oversight that Bengaluru lacks.

While the city’s rental market has seen periods of change, particularly during the height of remote work during the pandemic, the resurgence of in-office jobs has put pressure back on renters. As shared in the TimesNow report, this has re-established landlords’ dominance in negotiations, leaving tenants with little choice but to comply.