Bengaluru’s ₹23 lakh rental deposit for a house has sparked outrage online after a property ad went viral on X, calling out the city’s “greediest landlords in the world.” The ad, for a 4BHK fully-furnished 4,500 sq ft home, listed a ₹2.3 lakh monthly rent but demanded an eye-popping ₹23 lakh deposit — equal to 12 months’ rent.

The post ignited debate, with users comparing Bengaluru’s practices to global cities like New York, London, Dubai, and Singapore, where deposits are usually 1-2 months’ rent. Many slammed the “unregulated greed” and “low-trust culture” fueling such demands, while others noted premium homes often see such high deposits.

Some locals defended the practice as a symptom of weak rental laws and unreliable tenants, while others blamed renters for agreeing to outrageous terms and distorting the market further.

Commenters also criticized other quirks of Bengaluru rentals, including bans on non-vegetarian food, overnight guests, and social gatherings.

The viral discussion underlines the city’s growing housing affordability crisis and highlights the urgent need for more tenant-friendly regulations to address the imbalance between landlords and tenants in India’s tech capital.