Bengaluru’s ₹23 Lakh Rental Deposit Sparks Outrage Online
Bengaluru’s ₹23 Lakh Rental Deposit Sparks Outrage Online
Viral listing for a 4BHK home revives debate over rental practices in India’s tech capital
A rental listing from Bengaluru has gone viral, igniting widespread backlash and debate over the city’s increasingly unaffordable housing market. The controversy stems from a demand for a staggering ₹23 lakh security deposit—not the rent—for a 4BHK fully furnished independent house.
Bengaluru landlords are the greediest in the world
— Caleb (@caleb_friesen2) July 21, 2025
Rs. 23 lakh security deposit (12 months rent) is OUTRAGEOUS
meanwhile, deposits in other cities:
NYC? 1 month
Toronto? 1 month
Singapore? 1 month per year of lease
SF? 2 months'
Dubai? 5%-10% of annual rent
London? 5-6 weeks' pic.twitter.com/WPkl5o40C9
The listing, which surfaced on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), advertised a 4,500 sq ft home with a monthly rent of ₹2.3 lakh. But what caught the internet’s attention was the demand for a deposit equivalent to 10 months’ rent. One user summed up public sentiment bluntly: “Bengaluru landlords are the greediest in the world. ₹23 lakh deposit is OUTRAGEOUS.”
The post compared Bengaluru’s rental norms to global cities like New York, Toronto, Singapore, London, and Dubai, where deposits typically range from one to two months’ rent or around 5% to 10% of annual rent. In contrast, Bengaluru often sees landlords demanding six to 12 months of rent upfront.
While many were shocked, some Bengaluru residents noted that such deposit demands are not uncommon for premium properties. However, others questioned the sustainability and fairness of the trend, blaming both landlords and tenants. “One makes them greedier if we simply go without negotiating,” one user commented. “A few people actually paid what landlords asked, and now the market is messed up.”
Another pointed to the deeper cultural context: “Low trust society (unfortunately) and high cost of housing is a main reason.”
Further criticism was directed at platforms like NoBroker, with users alleging inflated and inaccurate listings. One post read: “Actually don’t trust NoBroker. When I post my home on FB or WhatsApp, a NoBroker listing of my house magically appears with imaginary prices I never agreed upon.”
Others highlighted intrusive rules that sometimes accompany rentals in the city—bans on non-vegetarian food, overnight guests, or social gatherings.
To be clear, not all Bengaluru landlords ask for sky-high deposits. Data from NoBroker shows average rents between ₹20,000 and ₹35,000 for single tenants, rising to ₹65,000 for couples depending on location. But for high-end properties in elite areas, a different logic seems to prevail.
At the core of the debate lies a deeper concern: fairness and trust. When landlords push far beyond global norms and regulatory scrutiny remains weak, the question arises is this model of renting sustainable in the long run?
