Pets rent is being taken from tenants in Bengaluru.
India’s Silicon Valley Bengaluru city is known for its work and nightlife as well as its immense love for pets. The cafes here have special menus for pets, there is a Labrador or Beagle to be seen on every second street, and birthday parties for pets are a common thing. Here pets are considered members of the family. But now this love is becoming heavy on the pocket. We are talking about a new rule, which has been named ‘Pets Rent’.
If you live in a rented house in Bengaluru and you have a pet, then you should be careful now. Landlords are now adding a new clause in the rental agreement, under which additional rent ranging from ₹ 1000 to ₹ 2000 is being charged from tenants every month. That means, your beloved companion can now put an extra burden of up to ₹ 2000 on your monthly income.
Why are landlords asking for extra charges?
The introduction of this additional fare did not happen overnight. This trend first started in posh and youth populated areas like Koramangala and HSR Layout. Here some homeowners argued that pets cause more damage to the house. This extra fee started being charged in the name of things like stains on the floor, scratches on walls or doors, cost of deep cleaning due to fur and odor, etc.
Soon, the trend spread to Indiranagar, Bellandur and Whitefield. Now even the brokers very cleverly put forward during the conversation that pets are fine, but in the name of ‘cleaning expenses’ ₹ 1500 or ₹ 2000 extra will be charged. Today the situation is such that even before giving the flat, the first question of the landlord or broker is, “Do you have pets?” If the answer is ‘yes’, then extra rent is demanded.
Tenants say that this rule is applied to everyone, even though not every pet causes harm. But the landlords are not ready for this.
Pet parents have to face these conditions
Apart from the extra rent, pet parents in Bengaluru are facing many other strange conditions which are making their daily lives difficult.
- Non-Refundable Pets Deposit: Along with the security deposit, another ‘pets deposit’ has to be paid, which is non-refundable.
- Advance cost of painting: Many landlords already recover the cost of painting the house from the tenants.
- Carrying pets in elevators: The condition that pets must be carried or kept under special restraints in order to carry them in a common area or elevator.
- Ban on certain breeds: It is completely prohibited to keep dogs of certain breeds in the house.
- Restriction on taking in common areas: It is strictly prohibited to take pets in the common areas of the building.
- Fine for noise: Rule to pay fine if pets make too much noise and neighbors complain.
Now know what the law says?
Now the question is, what does the law say? Legally, there cannot be an outright ban on keeping pets anywhere in the country. Housing societies also cannot stop keeping pets on the basis of breed or size. But, there is a ‘gap’ here: private landlords. Private landlords can include any clause in their rental agreement. And once the tenant signs that agreement, he has to follow all the rules. This game of ‘pet rent’, ‘pet deposit’ and additional charges has started by taking advantage of this legal gap.