You thought the “Silicon Valley of India” reached its apex for rental absurdity, but a new viral post raised the bar. In this case, a potential tenant in the city recently posted a screenshot of a conversation with a landlord that has generated much outrage on social media: for the opportunity to view the apartment the owner requested the entire month’s rent.
Controversy over the “Viewing Fee.”
This incident started when a software developer looking for 2BHK in HSR Layout region shared a chat script on Reddit and X (formerly known as Twitter). The landlord said that on the basis of the “high volume of time-wasters,” a non-refundable “Viewing Fee” of one month’s rent (₹45,000) had to be paid before sharing location and flat number, the seeker had stated. “He explained if I liked the flat and the agreement was signed, the charge would go into the security deposit. If I didn't like it? He keeps the 45k for his ‘time and effort,’” the frustrated seeker wrote.
Internet Reactions: "Peak Greed."
The post went viral, racking up thousands of comments from fellow Bengalureans who told their own horror stories. From being solicited for profiles on LinkedIn and 10th-grade mark sheets to “entrance interviews,” the city’s landlords are increasingly notorious for their gatekeeping.
The Skeptics: A large number of users noted that this follows the pattern of a sophisticated rental scam, where “landlords” take viewing fees on properties that they do not even own. The Experts: Real estate consultants have cautioned those demands have no legal basis. “A viewing fee is really a form of a bribe for accessing a basic service. It is predatory and probably a scam,” announced a local real estate agent.
A Market Out of Control
In this respect, rental market has surged in 2023 in Bengaluru and with a 25-30% year-on-year increase in rents for example in Indiranagar, Sarjapur, and Whitefield. The despair of the burgeoning tech workforce has also encouraged some owners to impose increasingly strange expectations on prospective tenants. House Hunters Guide for Safety Tips. As “viewing fee” scams proliferate, experts advise:
Never pay upfront
Before you actually visit the property and meet the owner don’t spend money on it.
- Check for Ownership: Request receipts from property tax records or utility bills to ascertain that the person is the actual owner.
- Report to Platforms: If you find such demands on rental apps, such as NoBroker or MagicBricks, report the listing at once.
The landlord in question had not been identified, but the incident is a chilling reminder of the obstacles young professionals in India’s most expensive tech hub face.
