October 6, 2025: Several high-profile individuals in Mumbai have recently made headlines for purchasing or leasing apartments for their domestic staff, a growing trend among high-net-worth families to ensure convenience and security for household operations.
Anjali Tendulkar, wife of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, was in the news in August 2025 after acquiring a 391-square-foot apartment on the third floor of Peninsula Heights in Virar for a member of her household staff. The transaction, registered on May, 30 2025, involved a stamp duty of Rs 1.92 lakh and registration fees of Rs 30,000. As a woman homebuyer, she availed a 1 per cent concession on stamp duty, a benefit available to female homeowners in Maharashtra. The apartment was purchased for Rs 32 lakh.
Gauri Khan, renowned interior designer and wife of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, leased a 2BHK apartment in Mumbai’s Khar West for her domestic staff at a starting monthly rent of Rs 1.35 lakh. The flat, located just 100 metres from their rented residence in Pali Hill, belongs to Pankaj Premises Cooperative Society Ltd and features a hall, kitchen, two bedrooms, and two washrooms. The three-year leave and licence agreement runs from April 10 2025 to April 9, 2028.
Earlier this year, the owner of a leading pharmaceutical firm purchased a 1,000 sq ft, sea-facing apartment in Bandra for approximately Rs 9 crore to accommodate his domestic staff near his existing residence. According to property experts, such purchases are often made to keep staff nearby for convenience and continuity, and in cases of smaller-ticket properties, units may even be gifted to long-serving employees as a gesture of appreciation.
Developers note that while some purchases may ultimately serve as investments, others are intended to provide staff with secure, nearby accommodation. This trend reflects a shift among Mumbai’s affluent households, who increasingly prioritise both employee welfare and operational efficiency in their residential planning.
Source: Hindustan Times
