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If you have rented in India — particularly in a metro city — you have almost certainly encountered at least one of these situations. They are not unusual. They are not isolated. They are structural features of a rental market that has operated informally for decades.
Here are nine of the most common problems Indian tenants face, why they happen, and what you can actually do about them.
Table of Contents
Problem 1 — Deposit Not Returned {#deposit}
The most common tenant complaint in India. You vacate. You hand over the keys. The deposit does not come back — or comes back weeks later, with deductions that were never discussed.
Why it happens: The deposit is large, the landlord holds it, and most tenants do not pursue the matter formally because the process seems complicated or expensive.
What to do: Send a formal written demand specifying the amount and a return deadline. File a complaint with the Rent Authority if the deadline passes. Consumer courts handle deposit disputes efficiently for amounts within their jurisdiction.
Related read: Landlord not returning deposit — what to do ?
Problem 2 — Arbitrary Deductions at Move-Out {#deductions}
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The “inspection team.” The “detailed assessment.” Charges for painting, pest control, deep cleaning — applied regardless of the property’s actual condition.
A viral Reddit post from Bengaluru in March 2026 — where a tenant described being told to expect ?20,000 in deductions on a ?1 lakh deposit after 20 months of clean family occupation — became the defining story of this problem for thousands of tenants who recognised it immediately.
Why it happens: Vague rental agreements, no move-in condition report, and the power imbalance created by the tenant having already vacated.
What to do: Document the property’s condition at move-in with photos and video. Do a joint move-out inspection with the landlord present. Get any agreed deductions in writing before handing over the keys.
Related read: Bengaluru tenant’s viral post — the full story ?
Problem 3 — Landlord Entering Without Notice {#entry}
Unannounced visits. A spare key used while you are away. Contractors arriving without warning. The landlord “just checking” at inconvenient hours.
Why it happens: Many tenants — and landlords — do not know that the landlord’s right of entry is restricted by law once a tenancy is in place.
What to do: Send a written notice to the landlord stating that future entry requires 24-48 hours advance notice. If the problem continues, file a complaint with the Rent Authority. If entry is accompanied by damage or intimidation, file a police complaint.
Related read: Landlord entry rules India ?
Problem 4 — Rent Increased Without Warning {#rent}
Mid-tenancy. At renewal. Sometimes just by message. The landlord announces a new figure and expects compliance.
Why it happens: Weak or absent escalation clauses in rental agreements, and tenants who accept new terms out of fear of losing the flat.
What to do: Check your agreement for an escalation clause and cite it in writing. Counter-propose in writing. Document any threats that accompany an unreasonable increase demand.
Related read: Rent increase rules India ?
Problem 5 — No Rent Receipt Issued {#receipt}
Many landlords — particularly those who prefer cash payments — simply do not issue receipts. When the tenant needs proof of payment for HRA, deposit disputes, or court proceedings, there is nothing to show.
Why it happens: Landlords who are not declaring rental income have a reason to avoid creating paper trails. Tenants who don’t ask for receipts create no accountability.
What to do: Always ask for a receipt — in writing if the landlord resists. Pay by bank transfer or UPI whenever possible — the transaction record itself serves as partial proof. Collect receipts monthly and file them.
Related read: Rent receipt format India — complete guide ?
Problem 6 — Eviction Without Proper Notice {#eviction}
“You have two weeks to leave.” No written notice. No reason. No process. Just a phone call or a conversation in the corridor.
Why it happens: Many landlords genuinely do not know the legal process for eviction. Some know and choose to pressure tenants out informally to avoid the formal route.
What to do: Do not vacate under informal pressure. Respond in writing that you require formal written notice as per your agreement and applicable law. Contact the Rent Authority if pressure continues.
Related read: Can a landlord evict without notice in India? ?
Problem 7 — Essential Services Cut During Dispute {#utilities}
The water stops. The electricity meter gets tampered with. The common connection gets cut. All because the landlord wants you to pay something or leave.
Why it happens: It is an effective short-term pressure tactic — and many tenants do not know it is illegal.
What to do: File an immediate complaint with the Rent Authority for restoration of services. File a police complaint if the conduct amounts to harassment or criminal intimidation. Document the timeline of when services were cut.
Problem 8 — Discriminatory Rental Conditions {#discrimination}
“We don’t rent to non-vegetarians.” “Only families from this state.” “We prefer a certain community.” Requirements that filter tenants based on religion, diet, caste, origin, or nationality.
Why it happens: Social prejudice, compounded by a rental market where supply-demand imbalance gives landlords the power to set terms.
What to do: Discriminatory rental conditions are illegal. Report blatant cases to the Rent Authority. In Delhi, SPUNER specifically handles cases involving discrimination against northeast residents.
Related read: Delhi landlord harassment of northeast residents ?
Problem 9 — Broker Overcharging and Hidden Fees {#broker}
A brokerage fee that is twice what is standard. An “agreement preparation charge.” A “key handover fee.” A “society introduction fee.” Costs that appear after you’ve already committed to the flat.
Why it happens: Brokers operate with limited regulation in most Indian cities, and tenants who are desperate for a flat in a tight market absorb charges without questioning them.
What to do: Know the standard brokerage in your city — typically one month’s rent for a residential lease. Question any charge beyond that in writing. Never pay any fee before viewing the property in person.
Related read: Broker scams India — how to avoid them ?
Final Thought
Nine problems. Each one solvable — or at minimum, documentable — when the tenant knows what they are dealing with and responds in writing rather than silence.
The rental market in India has real structural problems. But most individual disputes are resolvable without a court if the tenant knows their rights and acts on them promptly.
Every tenant problem has a guide. Browse our full library ?
