House rent spikes in Bengaluru as people return to offices

BENGALURU: With corporate companies calling back their employees to office with the Covid norms easing, house rent in the city has seen a 40 per cent rise over the last few months.

Realtors and house owners say rents are picking up after people started to come back to the city post the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, middle-class tenants are outraged by the increased prices of petrol, vegetables and cooking gas. Higher house rent also means a bigger dent in their pockets. With prices of almost all essential commodities increasing, those living on rent are demanding that the government fix the house rents.

A tenant living in the city.

“Since the 1980s, I have lived in rental houses. At that time, I used to pay Rs 30 per month in Chamarajpet. Currently, we pay around Rs 4,000–5,000 for a 1 RK accommodation. During the coronavirus pandemic, there were many houses available for rent. I urge the government to fix the rent. The house rent and increase in the price of petrol and other grocery items have made it difficult to lead a normal life”, said a tenant.

Rukmangada, a house owner

“Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many people vacated their houses and went to their hometowns. We had to pay the electricity and water bills, and even the loans. We paid taxes to the BBMP, and we requested some concessions from the government. Due to these factors, the rent has spiked by 40 per cent”, said Rukmangada, a house owner.