Soaring house rents and harassed tenants

I welcome the article in Madras Musings, expressing concern over soaring house rent in Chennai city. This is timely and should be widely shared.

We have recently conducted a study on the issues arising due to soaring house rent in Chennai city, by informally contacting a cross section of tenants and houseowners at various income level and ascertaining their views. The highlights of the study given below are revealing and cause concern about the problems faced by the tenants.

  • Apart from the soaring house rent, most of the houseowners demand six months  or even ten months rental advance to be paid at the time of occupation by the tenant. No interest is paid on this amount.
  • There are reported to be some cases, where houses are given on “rent on lease” basis, which means that the tenant has to pay lumpsum amount that may be equal to several months rent and for more than three years in some cases, at the time of occupation. No interest is paid by the houseowner.
  • In some cases, if the tenant desires to vacate the premises before the notice period, houseowners refuse to return the excess amount paid. However, even if the tenant has vacated the house before the notice period and forfeits the deposit amount, the houseowner rents out the house immediately to someone else. This means, for a few months, the houseowner gets two times the rent.
  • Some cases have been reported, where the houseowner insists that the tenant should leave the house in the same condition at the time of renting. This is not possible, since painting may have worn out to some extent or some other minor damages may have happened. Some owners do not permit nails on walls. In  such case, the houseowner demands that the tenants should meet the expenses for repainting and reconditioning the house at the time of vacating.
  • Many tenants have reported that the houseowners do not want to give the house on rent for more than three years. This poses problems for the tenants in several ways, as children for instance may be studying in nearby schools
  • In the case of lower income groups, there are some instances where a single house is divided into a few portions and given on rent to different families. In such cases, the houseowner insist that number of people living in the portion of the house should be informed to him in advance and more people should not live. If guests were to be there, extra rent should be paid for each person for the number days stayed.
  • In some cases, the houseowner insists that for power consumption, charges should be paid to the houseowner, which is sometimes as much as Rs.10 per unit.
  • The Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017 aims to ensure fair rent practices. No houseowner seems to care for this Act and government of Tamil Nadu has also failed to notify what is fair rent, which should be based on the affordability of the tenants at various levels and facilities in the houses. This Act now remains conspicuous by absence.

Plight of Kakkan colony residents in Besant Nagar: Case study

There are a number of houses that were constructed by Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board around 40 years back, for the benefit of people belonging to lower income group. The residents living there now have paid the complete instalment amount and have registered the house duly in their favour. However,in a few cases,  Slum Clearance Board now insists that the residents should vacate, as the buildings are old now and unsafe for living.

Residents living in Kakkan Colony in Besant Nagar, where there are more than 300 single room flats have been asked to vacate by the Slum Clearance Board. Most of the people living in these flats belong to lower income group or lower middle income group, with number of them working as housemaids, cleaners etc. The residents are in a huge dilemma now, as they have no place to go, since they cannot afford to pay the rental amount demanded by the houseowners, which is often Rs. 10,000 and more even for single room house, apart from high advance amount. The Slum Clearance Board has not given them any alternate accommodation.

All said and done, it is very clear now that the demand for residential houses in Chennai is much higher than the supply level, particularly due to the increasing population of the Chennai city and migration of people from other areas.

Obviously, the solution requires that some steps should be taken by the government to decongest Chennai city by adopting appropriate measures. The question is whether the Government of Tamil Nadu has the vision and desire to do so.

Finally, one word for houseowners, most of whom have reasonable level of income – they need to be considerate and humane to the tenants.

N.S.Venkataraman
Trustee, Nandini Voice for The Deprived
M 60/1, 4th Cross Street
Besant Nagar, Chennai 600090

We thank V.S. Jayaraman for this note. While we agree that the study does point out the travails of tenants, it seems to suggest that houseowners are the sole cause of all the trouble and tenants are angels. This may not be so in reality.

– Deputy Editor

A morning walk along Sembakkam Poonga

A morning walk has become an integral part of my daily routine. The experience is not just about physical exercise but also about rekindling my bond with nature. These walks are even more pleasurable as I get to witness the rising sun, painting the sky with hues of orange and gold, while breathing in the fresh, crisp, morning air. My chosen destination is the serene Sembakkam Poonga, which is just a ten-minute ride from my home – yes, I confess, my two-wheeler assists me in reaching this little slice of paradise before my feet take over!

Once I park my bike and step onto the track, a sense of calm envelops me. My thirty-minute walk through this verdant park is a refreshing experience, both physically and mentally. It is fascinating to observe the variety of activities taking place around me. Walking here is not just about covering a distance; it’s a symphony of movement and mindfulness.

Groups of senior citizens occupy the thinnai spaces, engaged in animated discussions that range from politics to neighbourhood gossip. Fitness enthusiasts, both solitary walkers and groups, briskly move along the tracks, many with earphones in place, lost in music or podcasts. Meanwhile, badminton players enthusiastically shuttle between points, and meditative souls find solace under shady trees, their eyes closed in serene concentration.

But what truly captures my heart is the scenic pond at the centre of the park. It is alive with activity – ducks paddling gracefully, cormorants diving for fish, and egrets, herons, ibises, and darters adding to the vibrancy of the scene. Watching these birds go about their morning routines is both calming and mesmerizing.

Lining the walking track are majestic trees – Punnai Maram (Millettia pinnata), teak, neem, banyan, badam, jamun, tamarind, guava, Ashoka, and frangipani – standing tall as soldiers, greeting me each morning and silently wishing me a wonderful day ahead. It’s almost as if they have grown fond of me, just as I have of them.

As I walk, my mind often wanders to questions that nature seems to whisper:

  • What makes us pause and truly observe?
  • How do we cultivate sensitivity towards nature?
  • Do we genuinely care for it, or do we merely admire it from a distance?
  • How can we keep our sense of wonder alive?
  • When was the last time we felt a personal connection with the natural world?

These musings add depth to my stroll, making it more than just a morning ritual. They remind me of the intricate bond we share with the earth, one that is often taken for granted.

Of course, no morning walk is without its light- hearted moments. There are the occasional joggers who mistake a leisurely walker like me for competition, overtaking me with exaggerated determination. Or the friendly neighbourhood dog that insists on joining me, wagging its tail as if to say, “Let’s explore together!” These encounters add a touch of humour to an already delightful experience.

Ultimately, my walks in Sembakkam Poonga offer more than exercise. They provide a sense of peace, a connection to nature, and an opportunity to reflect on life’s simple joys. In a world driven by screens and schedules, this morning ritual reminds me to pause, observe, and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

– Priyanka Soman