Bengaluru landlords criticised for exploitative practices amid rising rental costs

The soaring rental costs in Bengaluru have once again come under scrutiny after a startup founder highlighted the plight of a couple facing unresponsive and exploitative behavior from their landlord. Shravan Tickoo, in a LinkedIn post, described Bengaluru landlords as a "menace," accusing them of "modern-day exploitation" targeting non-native residents.

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Tickoo shared the ordeal of a couple renting a 2BHK apartment in a gated community for Rs 55,000 per month. Despite consistently paying their rent on time, the couple encountered numerous unresolved issues, including persistent water leakages. When approached, the landlord refused to address the problems, stating through the maintenance staff, "It's your headache to fix it."

The couple eventually spent over Rs 1 lakh from their own pocket to repair the issues. However, matters worsened when they decided to vacate the apartment. The landlord withheld their Rs 1.75 lakh security deposit, citing vague "maintenance requirements." In response to their objections, the landlord reportedly said, "Do whatever you can, but this is what it is."

Lacking feasible legal options, the couple was forced to leave without recovering their deposit. Tickoo’s post has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many criticizing the exploitative practices in Bengaluru’s rental market and calling for stronger tenant protection laws.