For better job opportunities, quality education, advanced medical services, and exposure, several Indians, especially the youth, migrate to bigger cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru among others.
And while they are there, they would need a house to live in. Since not everyone is comfortable staying in a hostel or as a paying guest, they start looking for an apartment to rent.
But, in India, it’s very difficult for single people, irrespective of their gender, to rent a house on their own. Their ‘unmarried’ marital status often proves as a roadblock in the process. Taking to Twitter, a woman shared her ‘house hunting’ story in Bengaluru.
The woman named Ruchita said that every broker asks her if she’s married probably because the house owner thinks that single women will keep calling their male friends to their homes and party every night.
She even shared the screengrabs of her conversation with a real estate broker who was fixated on renting the house only to women who won’t party and invite male friends over.
After the broker mentioned this condition to her, Ruchita politely denied him saying that she doesn’t want landlords who are so controlling.
Captioning the screengrab, she wrote that from now on she will pretend to be married to a ghost who will ensure she doesn’t party. That’s the only way she would be able to rent a property.
“Every broker asks me if I’m married because married people live boring lives and so they deserve a house. From tomorrow, I will be masquerading as a married woman looking for a house in Bangalore. My husband will be a ghost. He will ensure there are no parties or male friends.”
Every broker asks me if I’m married because married people live boring lives and so they deserve a house. From tomorrow, I will be masquerading as a married woman looking for a house in Bangalore. My husband will be a ghost. He will ensure there are no parties or male friends. pic.twitter.com/sdCKW8Jips
— Ruchita (@roocheetah) November 27, 2022
People online were appalled by this mindset. Some even came up with suggestions that would help her rent a house in the city.
Never got my head around this mindset. As long as house gets returned as it is, why commotion? Folks in India hardly do Project X kinda parties anyway. Thankfully though was always blessed with like minded landlords in BLR.
— Indraneel Murkumbi (@Indraneelkims) November 27, 2022
Yeah… a friend did this. Made someone she knew to pretend to be her husband. Got a sweet deal. Then lived alone while “hubby” worked abroad.
— APK (@APK_48) November 27, 2022
How can someone expect complete strangers to follow the lifestyle dictated by them just because the latter have rented their house for which they would be paying the former of course.
— Nishat Amber (@nishat_amber) November 27, 2022
A ghost father doesn’t work in this society cuz apparently 2 females; a mother n daughter are not “family” enough when renting out places. Oh so no father? No brother? No husband?
— The Protagonist (@_protagonist1) November 28, 2022
Owners will not give house on rent to bachelors who might have sex, but will happily give it to a married couple who definitely will have sex.
— Sahil Jain (@sahilariousss) November 27, 2022
While my flat hunting, one landlord stipulated that he would need to speak to the girl’s parents first if one is to come over.
— pratikbedia (@pratikbedia) November 27, 2022
Hahaah you could pretend your husband is in the army and you’re waiting that one day he’ll come back home from national duty
— Denial Sloss (Rohit) (@rohshah07) November 27, 2022
gatekept societies would’ve been more accurate
— witch (@omgthatwitch) November 28, 2022
Apparently, a lot of people have gone through the same thing while looking for a house.
Same story everywhere.. I remember an owner who was like ” Whenever any guest comes to your house, u have to first inform me. I re confirmed if I heard him correct by asking everytime..he said yes..I politely said bhaiya Ghar chahiye, jail nahi”
— दिल-ओ-दिमाग़ (@shaiz_princess) November 27, 2022
This is a story of every city and every single girl. My heart goes out to each one of them.
— Swapna Wazalwar (@ACupOfSolitude) November 28, 2022
I once finalized a house in pune.
But had to let it go because I couldn’t get married in 2 months. 😭😭😭
— Sohom.txt (is OLSO in BLR) (@sohom83) November 27, 2022
the bane of BLR, if female and single!
— #Reject_CAA_NRC_NPR_Aadhaar_EVM_FascistBJP (@2talkon) November 27, 2022
this shittiest thing is everywhere. During Intern, people of our apartment would look at me n my female colleagues as if we were from sm other world.
— KristoferAv (@Re_Abhi_Ra) November 28, 2022
Earlier, a man looking for a flat in Bengaluru was rejected by brokers as he didn’t go to IIT or IIM. I really can’t find the logic behind not giving singles a house to rent.
As long as they are not violating other people’s rights, paying their rent on time, and returning the house as it was, there shouldn’t be a problem. What do you think?
Cover image: Left