India, June 18 -- In Bengaluru, growing discontent among prospective tenants is shedding light on rigid and often exploitative rental practices. A Reddit post drew attention to issues such as six-month security deposits, arbitrary maintenance deductions, and landlords' reluctance to return security money, trends that are prompting even short-term residents to consider buying homes instead of renting.

What was once seen as a flexible housing option is now increasingly viewed as a financial trap. Many tenants say they're choosing homeownership not as an investment, but as a way to escape rental exploitation. In one example, a landlord reportedly deducted Rs.2,500 from the deposit for a table lamp that likely costs no more than Rs.500 in th...