Renting homes to foreigners? Police mandatory intimation rule enforced in Bengaluru

North East Division Police issue strict warning to house owners in Kothanur limits, citing visa overstays and foreign nationals’ involvement in drug peddling; legal action initiated for violations.

The Bengaluru City Police’s North East Division has issued a strong public advisory urging house owners to strictly follow legal procedures before renting out homes to foreign nationals. The warning comes after police initiated legal action against landlords in the Kothanur Police Station limits for renting premises without informing the local police.

According to the advisory issued by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, North East Division, several cases were detected where foreign nationals were residing in rented houses without police knowledge. Police sources revealed that in some instances, foreigners continued to stay even after their visa validity had expired, raising serious security concerns.

The police have also cited increased involvement of foreign nationals in drug peddling cases as one of the key reasons for enforcing stricter monitoring and compliance. Based on these findings, the North East Division Police have launched a crackdown and warned of guaranteed legal action against violators.

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Officials clarified that renting houses to foreign nationals without informing the police is a clear violation of law. Action is being taken under:

•    Section 7 of the Foreigners Act, 1946
•    Rule 14(O) of the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992
•    Form 16 (Police Report) under the Foreigners Order, 1948

Police said these measures are part of a broader effort to ensure proper tracking, monitoring and lawful stay of foreign nationals within the city.

In a clear message to the public, the police have advised all citizens and house owners to mandatorily inform the nearest police station while renting out houses or accommodations to foreign nationals. Failure to comply will lead to strict legal consequences, officials warned.

The advisory specifically applies to the Kothanur Police Station jurisdiction, but police indicated that similar enforcement may be intensified across other parts of the city as well.

The North East Division Police have reiterated that the move is purely in the interest of public safety, law enforcement and national security, and cooperation from house owners is crucial.