The idea of earning effortless “passive income” through rental properties is increasingly being questioned after a Mumbai landlord’s social media post about the stress of managing tenants went viral online. The post has triggered a wider conversation about whether real estate investments still offer peace of mind compared to financial instruments such as mutual funds and index funds.
Ankit Pandey, a social media user, shared his experience of owning a rental apartment in Mira Road and argued that rental income often comes with emotional and operational stress that investors rarely discuss. “Stop glorifying rental income as passive income,” he wrote, explaining that investing Rs 80 lakh in a flat had not delivered the sense of financial comfort he once expected.
According to Pandey, the issue escalated after he received a call from the electricity department informing him that his tenant had failed to clear an outstanding power bill of nearly Rs 7,000. Officials reportedly warned that the electricity connection could be disconnected if the dues remained unpaid.
Pandey said the tenant disputed the amount and claimed there was “some problem in the meter,” questioning how the bill could have become so high. The landlord, however, maintained that the tenant regularly used multiple electrical appliances, including air conditioners and induction-based equipment, making the bill entirely reasonable.
The disagreement led Pandey to reflect on the realities of managing rental property. “At one point, being a landlord starts feeling like a full-time stress job instead of passive income,” he wrote.
He further compared property ownership with investing the same Rs 80 lakh in market-linked instruments such as systematic withdrawal plans (SWPs) or index funds. Based on an assumed 12% annual return, Pandey claimed such investments could potentially generate nearly Rs 70,000 per month over several decades while avoiding what he described as “tenant drama,” maintenance disputes, and society-related complications.
The post drew mixed reactions online. While some users sympathised with the landlord’s frustrations, others argued that tenant management challenges are part of any rental business. Several property owners also noted that despite periodic stress, long-term capital appreciation and rental returns still make Mumbai real estate an attractive investment asset.
Source: The Economic Times
