Hyderabad: House hunting in the 21st century Hyderabad feels like a tribulation thrown at you as a time travel experience – and exposes you to the bitterest medieval tendencies in the minds of vicious bigots who have one thing one more in common – they have a property to let out. Paradoxically, a lot of this exercise harnesses the best of technology and globalisation – apps with house rentals advertisements, thrown in with algorithms powered by AI.
Come to residential areas around Khairtabad, especially Anand Nagar Colony, most landlords will refuse to rent out their property to you if you are not a Brahmin, but the excuse would be “vegetarians only”. Add to it, a regional prejudice: for Andhra folks only. If you are at the receiving end, your heart sinks every time a potential landlord tells you, without any sense of shock or shame, “we let out only to people who are from Andhra only... who are also vegetarians.” Such was the repeat experience around Anand Nagar Colony in Khairtabad, an area in the heart of the city, for Ravi Kumar, a private sector employee, who was openly told that rooms, either for rent or for sale, are only for those from Andhra.
Mr Kumar, a native of Telangana State, said, “I wanted a house close to my office located in Banjara Hills. Khairtabad was a perfect location – so I thought. I was in for a rude shock. They let out houses here only to people who are from Andhra Pradesh only.”
This led to some bitter arguments with both real estate agents and landlords, because it was hard for a Telugu speaking person to understand the basis of denial. In the area, there are ‘to-let’ boards put around in many small lanes, but at the start of a conversation, the landlords quickly say that do not let their homes.
No reason given in most cases. Mrs P Meenakshi (name changed), said, “When I was looking for an accommodation for our joint family, I was politely asked about my caste besides questions as to from which part of Andhra Pradesh I hail from. To be asked his question in Hyderabad in these times was very shocking.” There is a relentless volley of questions that landlords throw at you because they want to know a lot about their potential tenants. In another lane in Khairtabad, house owners stated point blank that they give their homes only to Andhra Brahmins.
Sriram R, landlord, (name changed), explained, “We have no bias against anyone based on religion or caste. But we have rituals we believe are good for our wellbeing, like regular puja, which have to be performed. For that reason, owners are particular about whom to rent. It is a personal choice and must not be needlessly misrepresented as bias or coloured-vision.”
Tony Metalhead, currently a tenant in Sainikpuri, who was looking for a new house to let, said, “I am from north while my wife hails from the north-east. It has been quite a task for both of us to find a house as people ask my wife all sorts of questions of what she and I eat. People reject us, but very politely.”
S. Rama Raju, a techie, said, “I have seen a change in Himayatn-agar, where a lot of people from Andhra have bought homes. Earlier there was a good mix of people but now that is not so. People are increasingly becoming more particular about religion, region, and caste which is a changing trend that is engulfing colony after colony, area after area.”
