Moving into a rented 1RK or 1BHK in Bangalore: a checklist

Before you pay anything

• Know who you are dealing with. Ask for the identity of the owner or manager. If a property manager is involved, ask how they are authorised to act for the owner.
• Visit twice. Go once in daylight and once in the evening. Notice noise, light, smells, security and how busy the lane is.
• Test the basics during the viewing. Run the taps, flush the toilet and check the water pressure. Switch on the lights, fans and sockets. Look for damp patches on ceilings and walls, especially in corners and bathrooms.
• Ask about water and power. Where does the water come from, when is it supplied, and what happens when supply is short? Is there power backup? Answers vary from one building to the next.
• Try your commute. Travel at the hours you will really travel. A short distance can take far longer at peak time.

Read the agreement before you sign it

Check each of these, and make sure the answer is written down:

• The monthly rent and the date it is due.
• The deposit amount, how it is held, and when and how it is refunded.
• The lock-in period and the notice period for either side.
• How the rent can change when the agreement is renewed.
• Who pays society maintenance charges and utility bills.
• Who handles repairs, and what counts as damage caused by the tenant.
• The rules on guests, flatmates and subletting, and on parking.

Documents to keep ready

Owners and managers usually verify tenants before handing over keys. Having these ready speeds things up:

• A government photo ID and an address proof.
• Recent employment proof, such as an offer letter or company ID.
• Passport-size photographs.
• The bank account or UPI details you will pay rent from.

On move-in day

1. Photograph and film every room. Capture walls, floors, fixtures and any existing damage. Send the files to the owner or manager the same day so there is a dated record.
2. Test everything. Taps, shower, geyser, fans, lights, switches, sockets, door locks, window latches and cupboards.
3. Note meter readings for electricity and water if they are separate.
4. Count the keys and any access cards or remotes. If the flat is furnished, get an inventory of furniture and appliances signed by both sides.
5. Save the right numbers: who to call for repairs, the society office and building security.
6. Learn the building's rules on garbage collection, visitors, parking and water timings.

During your stay

• Pay rent by bank transfer or UPI and keep the record. Ask for a receipt when it is needed.
• Report repairs early, in writing or on WhatsApp, so there is a trail.
• Report leaks as soon as you notice them, before they spread.

When you move out

• Give notice in writing, as the agreement says.
• Ask for a walkthrough with the owner or manager and compare the flat with your move-in photos.
• Agree in writing how and when the deposit will be returned.
• Take final meter readings and hand back every key.

Red flags to watch for

• Pressure to pay a deposit the same day, before you have seen the agreement.
• No written agreement, or a refusal to put promises in writing.
• Reluctance to say who the owner is or to show that the person letting the flat is allowed to.
• A deposit or rent paid in cash with no receipt.
• Visible damp, exposed wiring or a flat that smells of mould, with a promise that it will be fixed later.
• Rules that appear only after you move in.

Questions worth asking neighbours or the building security

A few minutes with the people who live nearby tell you things a viewing cannot: how reliable the water supply is, how noisy the road gets at night, whether lifts and parking work as promised, and how quickly the building deals with problems.

Renting a RentRo-managed home

In flats managed by RentRo, homes are cleaned, checked and repaired before you move in, and repairs go to RentRo, so you are not chasing an owner. Tenants pay a one-time onboarding fee of ₹5,000 and a monthly service charge of ₹1,000 that is included in the rent (see the tenant terms), with no brokerage. Owner phone numbers are never shared. For anything you need from your owner, contact RentRo and we take it up for you.

Are you an owner? See our guide to property managers and brokers.