PIL challenges 10-month rent as advance for houses

A PIL challenging the practice of 10-month advance normally paid by tenants to their house owners was heard in the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday.

Petitioners, Dove Drive Without Borders Foundation approached the court contending that tenants in the city have absolutely no bargaining power during negotiations with the landlord for the quantum of money to be paid as security deposit.

The petitioners have said that in the absence of any guidelines or rules, the landlords are completely free to charge any sum they wish as ‘interest-free refundable security deposit’. The petitioners have sought directions to the government to frame guidelines.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice R B Budihal directed the principal secretary to the government to consider the petitioner's representation and disposed of the petition.