Security deposits: what societies actually ask for (with the numbers)

Ask a broker what the deposit is and you'll hear "standard, sir." There is no standard — and now we can prove it.

What the data shows

Across the reports on MyBharat that include a deposit figure:

• The typical ask clusters around 2–3 months of rent in most metros.
• Premium gated societies push higher: we see ₹5,00,000 deposits on ₹80,000 rents (6+ months) in Whitefield-grade communities, while comparable rents elsewhere in the same city carry 2-month asks.
• Two months is normal. Anything above three months should trigger a conversation, not a signature.

The three rules for getting it back

1. Photograph everything on day one. Timestamped photos of every wall, fitting, and scratch. Deposits die in "repainting charges" — a photo dated before the landlord's claim is the whole argument.
2. Put the deduction list in writing before you leave. Under most state rent agreements the landlord must itemise deductions. "We'll see when you vacate" is not an itemised list.
3. Know your local ceiling. Several states cap deposits (Maharashtra, for one, has capped deposit multipliers for certain tenancies). A 6-month ask may not just be greedy — it may not be enforceable. Check your state's rules or ask on the community.

Pay it forward

When you report your rent on the map, add your deposit. Deposit norms are the least-documented part of Indian renting — every report makes the next renter's negotiation fairer. It's anonymous and takes seconds: report your rent.