A room of one’s own comes at a cost here

Earlier, PG owners would solicit parents, but lately the market has seen a transformation with brokers coming into the picture

July 10, 2016 07:08 am | Updated 07:08 am IST

For all those coming to the city to study in Delhi University (DU), finding an accommodation could be a challenge. Even though there are Paying Guest (PG) accommodations or apartments aplenty across both campuses of the varsity, they come with their own set of problems.

Earlier, PG owners would solicit parents but lately, the market has seen a transformation with brokers coming into the picture. The South Campus has had this system in place for many years now, but it is a recent development on the North Campus. Although brokers find PGs according to the stated needs, they charge a hefty commission from both students as well as landlords.

Girls usually have it easier in finding PG accommodations compared to boys. Shiv, a broker, explains: “Boys usually take up a PG for a year and then shift to flats. Landlords then have to look for new occupants.”

Most of the PGs on the campus are built in six-storey buildings. They, however, lack basic safety features like fire exits.

Some landlords also object to pictures of their buildings clicked for the fear of tax raids. Aman, a broker, said PGs were owned on freehold basis and might not be registered with the government for carrying out commercial activities. His advice for students was that they should be careful while selecting an accommodation.

The other problem that students face is the security policy of PGs. Owners make students pay two months’ fee in advance (over the current month’s fee) to cover up for security lapses. Students are made to sign an agreement in which they agree on staying in the PG for a period of 11 to 12 months. If they are to leave earlier, they are made to forego the security amount.

Read before you agree

Rishika, a student at North Campus, warns that students should read the agreement document carefully and object to any suspicious clause. She says: “Students should ask about each and everything in advance and then decide. This includes the cost of electricity, food, laundry, etc.” Many students find that unknown expenditures get added to their rent.

Electricity bill remains a bone of contention between students and landlords. Some PGs charge Rs.7 to Rs.10 per unit of electricity over and above the monthly rent, while the government charges Rs.7 to Rs. 8 per unit. Shria, a student, explains: “My landlord charged me even for the electricity used in the mess or the common corridors.” Some PGs resolve this problem by having a lumpsum charge included in the rent.

Money matters

Students should also be wary of an increment in rent, which might take place a few months after taking admission into a PG.

Youngsters can also opt for flats, for the simple reason that they provide more space and freedom. However, students should be prepared to shell out anywhere between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 24,000.

The problem remains that DU does not have enough hostel facilities. As long as this is not addressed, students will continue to face the music.

(The writer is an Intern with The Hindu )

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.