A Bengaluru man’s frank LinkedIn post regarding his experience with a landlord who allegedly deducted more than half of his security deposit has resonated with tenants across India. This narrative has ignited a movement advocating for improved tenant rights in major cities, where tales of unregulated rent increases, withheld deposits, and landlord misconduct are becoming increasingly prevalent.
Highlights
Tenant Protections in India: The Story of Shravan Tickoo
Shravan Tickoo, who recently left a 2BHK apartment on Sarjapur Road in Bengaluru after residing there for two years, recounted his ordeal on LinkedIn, revealing how his former landlord returned only ₹68,000 from his ₹1.5 lakh deposit after imposing unwarranted charges.
Life in a 2BHK: Communication Challenges
Tickoo commenced his post by stating that he had just vacated his 2BHK on Sarjapur Road to move into a larger home.
He mentioned, “When I moved in, my landlord never communicated with me once in two years. The reason? She only speaks Kannada. I had to interact with her building representative, who conveyed similar sentiments.”
While the absence of communication meant less interference, it also resulted in no support for essential maintenance. Tickoo recounted a safety concern involving a shattered window on the 13th floor, which he had to repair at his own expense.
Lack of Maintenance Support
Tickoo expressed, “Even basic repairs and upkeep were entirely my responsibility. I reached out once when a windowpane broke… After I deducted the repair cost from the rent and shared the invoice on WhatsApp, she outright refused. Her associate told me, ‘Bhaiya, aise nahi hota hai.’”
Tickoo had heard “rumours” of the landlord’s mistreatment towards prior tenants during the exit procedure. Preparing himself mentally for potential complications, he was still taken aback by the final settlement.
Unjust Charges and Lack of Transparency
He wrote, “Painting charges – ₹55,000. Miscellaneous damages – ₹25,000+.” Despite asking for a detailed list, the claimed damages seemed excessive. “₹2,000 for lift usage (everyone uses the lift!).”
Tickoo stated that despite multiple requests, the landlord failed to provide actual invoices or validation for the alleged expenses.
“I asked her to supply a list of actual purchases with invoices. All I received was a handwritten note with random charges,” he added.
Ultimately, Tickoo received only about 40% of his original deposit back.
Tickoo’s post has incited a flood of responses from users sharing their own tales across Indian cities.
One user commented, “This is beyond disgusting. I hope you are taking action against her for this level of greed.”
Another LinkedIn user noted, “It’s not just Bangalore. I was scammed similarly by my landlord in Chennai. India has no regulations that offer fair conditions for tenants, despite rental income making up 50% of real estate revenue in metro cities.”
Some individuals shared strategies for minimizing deposit losses: “My advice for anyone living in BLR is to avoid paying rent at least 3-4 months in advance to recover maximum deposits; otherwise, the landlord will deduct it anyhow,” stated one user, who claimed to have taken such actions after being informed about their landlord’s history.
