A tenant’s allegation that her landlord refused to return a Rs 55,000 security deposit after asking her to vacate the apartment upon discovering that she was living with her unmarried male partner has sparked discussions around rental agreements, tenant rights and housing practices.
The tenant shared her experience through a Reddit post, claiming that the landlord declined to renew her lease and asked her to leave the property after learning about her live-in arrangement. She alleged that she had informed the broker about her living situation before renting the apartment but was advised to present herself as the only occupant.
“The broker suggested I portray myself as the sole inhabitant of the rented house. I tried to do this for the entirety of the rental agreement,” she wrote in the post.
According to the tenant, the issue came to light when the landlord visited the apartment and found out that her partner was also staying there. She claimed the landlord accused her of hiding the information and refused to refund the deposit.
“Because I lied, they will not return my deposit of Rs 55k and I would have to pay rent of ₹29k next month despite being asked to leave on 31st of July,” she alleged.
The tenant further claimed that she had agreed to give up the deposit during the argument simply to end the confrontation but later questioned whether she had any legal options. She also alleged that a second broker refused to return a brokerage fee of Rs 12,000 after the renewal of the rental agreement did not proceed.
Real estate experts said disputes involving unmarried couples renting homes remain a sensitive issue in some parts of Mumbai. “There are instances where the landlord is willing to rent out the property, but the housing society does not allow it. So the ecosystem is not fully ready yet,” said Ketan Joshi, a real estate consultant from Mumbai’s western suburbs.
He added that such decisions often depend on individual housing societies and localities, with some places being more accepting than others.
In her Reddit post, the tenant said she had stayed in the apartment for around five months of an 11-month agreement, as both she and her partner were mostly working from home. She claimed the landlord had earlier indicated that rent for the next month could be avoided if a replacement tenant was found.
The tenant also described the confrontation with the landlord’s wife, alleging that she initially claimed the partner was only a female friend before later revealing the actual relationship.
“The wife owns this apartment and she came to inspect first. Told her the female friend visits and the second setup belonged to her. At this point she started to act like a total victim and demanding 10k per month for all the months my female friend had been here. Her husband however, never said anything unnecessary and asked me her details and told me they would discuss this. The wife on the other hand, was acting rabid,” the tenant posted.
She further wrote, “Right as they were leaving, I came clean and told them it was my male partner and not a female friend. All hell broke loose after this, what ensued was a bunch of typical insults from her directed at me. They asked me if the broker knew and I told them that Broker A knew. Then owner tells me because I lied they will not return my deposit of Rs 55k and I would have to pay rent of Rs 29k next month despite being asked to leave on 31st of July.”
The post received several reactions online, with many users advising the tenant not to voluntarily surrender the security deposit and suggesting that deposits are generally meant to cover unpaid rent or property damage. Some recommended seeking legal advice and keeping all communication with the landlord documented.
However, some users also pointed out that if the rental agreement restricted additional occupants or required prior approval from the landlord, allowing another person to stay could potentially be considered a violation of the agreement. Others argued that the main concern was not the couple’s marital status but the lack of disclosure about another resident living in the apartment.
Source: Hindustan Times
