Hyderabad: Young house hunters warned against rental rows

Hyderabad: Young working people looking for accommodation in the city are realising it’s no cakewalk. Unregulated issues like demands of hefty rentals and large advances, involvement of middlemen and discriminatory rules against bachelors and non-vegetarians create friction between owners and tenants. 

Non-issuance of rental agreements between the two parties make matters worse.“I was not aware of what I was getting into,” says Ann (name changed) who heard from a friend about a suitable flat near Kondapur. 

Within a month, she realised that the friend had sub-let the flat to her without informing the owner, who had maintained a ‘no bachelor’ rule. “I have paid a three-month advance but if the owner finds out I will be evicted,” Ann said.

Issues like these are just the tip of the iceberg, as many young people remain unaware of the laws for renting a flat. “A rental agreement is a legal document between the owner and the tenant. In case of any dispute, it helps in putting your case across in the court of law or with the police. It also doubles up as address proof,” said S. Venkat Rao, a notary at the Miyapur courts.

Many youngsters do not bother to make an agreement as seen to be more important to property owners to ensure the tenants stick to certain rules. But rental startups, who have made the rental process a click away, say they are attempting to regularise the haphazard system and bring in some checks and boundaries. 

They say that since there is no regulatory authority, they try to act as relationship managers to ease both parties.  This can reduce the apprehensions of having bachelors and non-vegetarians as tenants and other forms of discrimination.

Tips for new tenants

• Interact with the owner directly about the conditions before taking the property on rent. This will ensure that middlemen, if any, don’t hide any clauses mandated by the owner.
• Insist on making a rental agreement with an authorised notary.
•  Cross-check all clauses agreed upon with the owner.
• If the period of stay is for more than 3 years, register it with local registrar to prevent eviction and maintaining rent norms.
• Clearly demarcate the payments that need to be made towards rent, maintenance and utility charges especially if renting shared portions of buildings.
• Check out the and inquire about the owners with neighbours.

For owners

• Check Aadhaar card and employment documents of the tenant.
• Even if a third party is involved in renting out the flat, get in touch with the tenants personally and ensure rental deeds.