Being single thought to be the coolest thing by the youngsters can actually not be very cool when it comes to renting a place in some societies in Mumbai. The trend is becoming increasingly common across Navi Mumbai, which has seen an influx of young professionals due to development in the Thane-Belapur industrial belt.
A number of committee members of housing societies are of the belief that renting out flats to bachelors leads to several problems. The committees feel that bachelors create disruptions and they don't want their children to be exposed to such environment.
Chavan, who owns a flat in the same society, believes that the attitude is unfair. He says, “Young people look for good housing societies as it provides them greater security, something they might not get if they live as paying guests (PG). It is unfair to punish all single men and women just because the societies have had one or two bad experiences.”
Fresh out of college, and after landing their first jobs, many are faced with the flat-hunting nightmare. Anju Shukla, 24, software analyst at Accenture, says, “I have been denied flats several times and have lived as a paying guest too. Once, I was living as a PG near Marine Drive where my landlord, who was a middle-aged single woman herself, simply told me that I could not come home for three days. I had to sleep at Marine Drive for three nights in a row.”
As bachelors struggle to find a roof over their head, many question the basis on which housing societies deny them flats. However, legal experts say that the societies are not violating any law by doing so. While the urban landscape has undergone a sea-change, most housing societies remain wary of the change. Murli Kevalramani of Om Sai Real Estate, Airoli, says, “A number of youngsters are in live-in relationships these days. When we rent out flats to a group of people, some of them move out due to job changes. This creates a lot of hassles as we draw up agreements. Many youngsters are extremely arrogant too.”
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