In a tweet that resonated with many, tech entrepreneur Varun Mayya highlighted a growing issue faced by renters in Bengaluru, sparking a wave of shared grievances. In his tweet on X (formerly Twitter), Mayya wrote, “The biggest scam in Bangalore is when you are leaving an apartment and the owner sends you a fraction of the security deposit claiming “damage” or something despite no evidence. I’ve lived in maybe 10 apartments and this illegal retention of deposit has happened every single time.” 

Mayya’s frustrations struck a chord with many, racking up 1.1 million views as renters across India shared their own stories of similar experiences, pointing to a broader trend of unfair deposit retention. 

the biggest scam in bangalore is when you are leaving an apartment and the owner sends you a fraction of the security deposit claiming “damage” or something despite no evidence. I’ve lived in maybe 10 apartments and this illegal retention of deposit has happened every single time

— Varun Mayya (@waitin4agi_) November 13, 2024

In addition to this, security deposits in Bengaluru have soared, with many landlords now demanding 10-12 months' rent upfront. One commenter pointed out that this issue is not unique to Bengaluru but also spans other cities like Gurugram and Mumbai. 

One user wrote: “It's almost like a tradition there. Under the Karnataka Rent Control Act, landlords are supposed to give back the deposit within 30 days of you vacating the place...And if there's any deduction, they are legally required to provide itemised details of the damages or repairs.”

“A friend in Bombay faced this with her landlord and had to call the cops and then only they relented still cutting an amount. Cops were also bemused to their demands. But Bombay cops are better this way,” wrote another user.

In contrast, a user from Mizoram shared a refreshing alternative, highlighting the stark difference in rental culture in the northeastern state. "Nobody even knows what security deposits are over here. No rental agreements either, just trust," the user explained.

Another user shared his living experience in Delhi NCR and wrote, “I recently vacated an apartment in Electronic city. The geyser that the owner had installed (many years ago) had developed a minor leak in the tank. A technician I called had said it would cost 3k to repair but since it's old, it's better to replace. The great house owner during my exit argued that "he had given it in working condition and it's now faulty" and hence I should bear the cost. No use arguing with idiots. He held back 5k for it saying he's being fair. The lies they tell themselves.”