A Bengaluru tenant’s account of how he managed to recover his entire Rs 2.6 lakh security deposit after a bitter dispute with his landlord has gone viral on Reddit.

In the post shared on r/Bangalorerentals, the tenant said that he had rented a 3.5 BHK apartment for Rs 55,000 a month during the Covid-19 period, but later found himself in conflict with the flat owner, a retired Army officer.

Initially, the landlord appeared “sweet and supportive,” the tenant recalled. However, tensions began when the rent was increased from Rs 55,000 to Rs 78,000 following the RTO boom. While the tenant decided to vacate the house with due notice, he claimed the landlord’s attitude soured, often using derogatory remarks.

According to the tenant, just days before vacating, the landlord began making deductions for repairs—Rs 40,000 for painting, Rs 7,000 for cleaning, and further amounts for plumbing, electrical, and appliance wear and tear—eventually demanding as much as Rs 77,000 for alleged damages.

“At this point, I was sure he didn’t want to return the security deposit but was building a document trail to fight a case if needed,” the tenant wrote.

Enraged but determined, the tenant said he devised an unusual strategy instead of pursuing a lengthy legal battle. He researched the landlord’s military background and allegedly sent anonymous emails to the Ministry of Defence, the officer’s former unit, and even a private golf club, claiming the landlord was misusing his rank and reputation.

Within days, the tenant claimed, the landlord called him directly in a softened tone, asked him to stop and promised to return the money. “He returned the entire security deposit without any deductions,” he concluded, adding that while the episode looked “easy,” it involved significant planning and research.

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Tenant-landlord disputes over withheld deposits remain one of the most common complaints in India’s rental housing market, particularly in metro cities where rents are high and demand is strong.

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