India, April 18 -- While Bengaluru's real estate prices continue to rise, tenants across the city are raising concerns over what many describe as an 'unspoken scam'-the arbitrary deduction of security deposits by landlords at the time of vacating rented homes. Deductions are often made for vague reasons such as 'wall stains,' 'general wear and tear,' or minor cleaning issues. In many instances, tenants say there are no written agreements specifying these penalties, making the deductions feel arbitrary and non-negotiable.

"This is the biggest scam in Bangalore," wrote A K Mandhan, an investment advisor, on the social media platform X. "When you leave an apartment, the owner sends you only a fraction of your security deposit, claiming 'dam...