News: Bengaluru Tenant Gets Back Rs 18,000 of Rs 70,000 Deposit-24-03-2026
A Bengaluru renter’s claim that most of her security deposit was withheld when she moved out has revived the debate over landlord practices and tenant protection in the city.
In an Instagram video, Charu Gupta said she had paid a Rs 70,000 deposit for a 3BHK apartment in Yeshwanthpur that she shared with two other tenants. The landlord later asked them to vacate, saying he planned to sell the flat. After leaving, she alleged, she got back only Rs 18,000, with nearly Rs 52,000 deducted under heads such as repair and maintenance.
In a similar case, another tenant alleged that a US-based landlord managing a 2.5 BHK apartment remotely deducted over Rs 51,000 for repainting and cleaning, leaving him feeling "harassed and blindsided".
Real estate brokers said landlords are generally entitled to deduct reasonable costs for damage beyond normal wear and tear, but such deductions must be documented and supported by actual expenses. Deposits in Bengaluru range from a few months’ rent to as much as 10 months’ rent in older agreements, and brokers said they are meant to cover damage or unpaid rent, not routine upkeep.
A landlord who spoke on condition of anonymity said adjustments often go beyond repainting. The money is typically used to restore the unit before reletting, covering deep cleaning of bathrooms, minor plumbing and hardware repairs and replacement of locks.
Advocate Avilash Naik said Karnataka law places no specific restriction on these practices. If the rental agreement clearly sets out charges, such as a fixed repainting cost, and both sides have accepted them, landlords can rely on those terms in a dispute.
Priyanka Kwatra said both parties often overlook exit clauses on painting charges, maintenance costs and deposit adjustment, and conflicts arise when large sums are withheld without clear contractual backing. Srinivas G advised tenants to photograph or video the premises at move-in to create evidence for any later dispute over damage.
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