To-let boards in the city appear again as Covid cases rise

Bengaluru: As Covid cases are increasing every day, Bengalureans are giving up their rented homes to shift to their native homes.

To-let boards in the city are appearing again on shop windows, house games and at office entrances as people have started to seek safe places.

Sujith Kumar who had rented a house in Marathahalli which was close to his office is now shifting to his parents’ house in Hesaraghatta as the cases are increasing and there is a fear of lockdown. He is just one of the many people who have moved out of their current accommodation to safer places.

Darshana (name changed), a content writer will be shifting house this weekend. She moved to an area where she could be close to her family and friends. Also, her landlord had raised the rent. She said, “Last year’s lockdown was hard on me. I don’t think I can survive another lockdown, living alone.”

Many realty professionals say that with the increasing Covid cases, many rented houses are becoming vacant. “Many of my shops are also vacant. Shopkeepers have vacated the premises fearing a lockdown. Rumours are spreading as rapidly as the coronavirus. Despite the State Government saying there will be no lockdown, people are not ready to listen and they don’t want to get stuck in the city without transportation and food, like last year. Hence, a section of the people is moving out and commercial complex owners are staring at vacant shops and offices”, said Ramesh Kumar, a real estate agent.

“My tenants had vacated the house last year and just two months back they had returned. But with Covid cases rising again, they have gone back to their home towns. I don’t know how long I will have to wait till I get new tenants”, said Kamala S, a resident of Defence Colony.

The railway station has been witnessing large crowds of people as many are going out of the city. Some of them want to settle in their hometowns where the Covid cases are comparatively less. Many people are opting to work from small towns and villages that they come from as many private companies are offering the work from home option. R Prasad, a first-year BA student said, “I vacated my house on Bannerghatta road on April 11 and went back to Patna as my classes are now online. Back home, my parents are worried about my safety. Many of my friends have also moved out of the city.”

Those who own houses are planning to offer discounts to their tenants. Gireesh S, a techie and a house owner said, “As per the agreement, there used to be a 10 per cent hike in the rent every year. However, we have discontinued the practice and instead have asked for a five per cent increase. It’s better to have some rent coming in than none at all. Even if a house is vacant, we have to pay a minimum amount for electricity and water bills, and property tax.”

There are some people who are hiring storage spaces to dump their luggage. Prashanthi Reddy, a student, said, “Since we are vacating our rented accommodation for a few months, we are looking for places where we can store our things till we come back. Once the situation normalises, we can come back and set up a new home.”

“Since last year we have been seeing that when Covid cases rise, people vacate the city and move out. I am a local, so where can I go? I have to stay here and protect myself from Covid. However, during my walks, I see many ‘To Let’ boards everywhere”, said Suma Devi, a Bengalurean.