Amid soaring rental prices in Bengaluru, a startup founder has brought the attention to exploitations faced by tenants in the city, often referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley of India.’ Shravan Tickoo, Founder of Rethink Systems, shared on LinkedIn about a couple’s ordeal with their landlord, shedding light on the broader issues faced by tenants.
In a LinkedIn post, Shravan Tickoo said that a couple reportedly rented a 2BHK apartment for Rs 55,000 per month and despite paying rent on time, they were forced to spend Rs 1 lakh on maintenance issues since their landlord refused to bare it. Additionally, as a final blow, the couple were also denied their deposit amount.
Tickoo said: “I recently saw a case where a couple moved into a society for a 2BHK with an astronomical rent of ₹55,000. The couple paid the rent every month, but whenever there was leakage or any issue with the property, the landlord didn’t even pick up the phone. Instead, they communicated through the property maintenance person, saying, “It’s your headache to fix it,” even though it was clearly a property issue. The couple ended up spending over ₹1 lakh fixing these issues from their own pocket.”
When the couple decided to vacate the property, he mentioned that the situation worsened. The landlord allegedly refused to return their Rs 1.75 lakh deposit. He said: “When the couple suggested deducting one month’s rent and returning the rest, the landlord stopped responding and arrogantly stated, “Do whatever you can, but this is what it is.” With no other option, the couple had to leave the flat without getting their deposit back. When it comes to increasing rent, landlords are the first to call and ping you, but when there’s a problem, it’s suddenly your problem.”
Tickoo described the situation as “modern-day exploitation” and highlighted how such practices disproportionately affect non-native residents of Bengaluru. “When it comes to increasing rent, landlords are the first to call and ping you, but when there’s a problem, it’s suddenly your problem,” he wrote in his post.
Shravan Tickoo also warned those renting or purchasing homes to be cautious. Otherwise, he said, “This city of dreams for so many of us can quickly turn into a nightmare you never expected.”
The post has sparked widespread discussions about tenant rights, landlord accountability, and the need for regulatory reforms to address such exploitation in Bengaluru’s booming rental market.
