Landlords Beware! The tenant in your house might be an intruder

Landlords Beware! The tenant in your house might be an intruder
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The recent attack on IISc has once again evoked fear among the landlords in the city. Now they are forced to think twice before renting out their houses to strangers.

The city police have warned the landlords to be careful before letting their house even to students as they believe there are a lot of chances of terrorists in guise of students staying in decent neighbourhoods.

The police have a reason to believe that there is a growing tendency among these groups to stay in rented apartments using fake identities.

There have been many incidents in the past where in young militants have pretended to be students and underworld elements have posed as businessmen, police sources said.

For instance, in late 1990s, some United Liberation Front of Assam(ULFA) activists were arrested in a residence in Peenya and Rajiv Gandhi's assasins Shivarasan and his gang were traced in HAL II stage. Meanwhile in September 2002, the militant Imam Ali and his associates, under false names, claiming to be timber merchants had rented out a house at M S Ramaiah Layout.

These incidents add to police's suspicion on the possibility of the suspected intruder in IISc shootout case to be very much in the city.

The police inspectors have reportedly been asked to caution people to carefully examine the credentials of people to whom they rent their houses.

Not to take any chance, Delhi government has brought out a law where in all the landlords have to report the details of their tenants including the tenant's photograph, Identity card to the nearest police station.

When contacted the Joint commissioner of police, M C Narayan Gowda, he ruled out the possibility of bringing a law in this regard. He said it will press the panic button.

“In 2002 after Imam Ali incident we had actually asked the landlords to inform the whereabouts of their tenants to nearest police stations but there were lot of comments on this. And many of them did not agree to do this, so we were forced to withdraw the idea.'' he said.

The landlords especially the apartment owners do not even bother to find out if the person is from Karnataka or from any other state.

Apparently they even refuse to ask the local real estate agents to help them in finding tenants for their buildings. Most of them blindly rent out flats to strangers.

According to M N Ramnath, a landlord in Indiranagar, “After the IISc attack we have been instructed not to rent out houses to strangers”.

“But the problem is it is very difficult to wait for a person who comes with perfect documents and many times they get offensive when we ask for identity cards and other details’.

‘So if party looks okay and reliable, we just ask the house owner to verify his office address and number. We just go by gut feeling,''.

The police department however feels it is high time Bangaloreans start demanding for proper credentials from their tenants.

“The best way the landlords could handle it is to take enough time to reassure the details provided by the tenant and then let their house.'' Narayan Gowda added.

Incidents in the city where intruders' have been the tenants

*ULFA activists arrested in late 1990s

*Rajiv Gandhi assasins-Shivarasan and his gang were traced in Indiranagar.

*Dawood Ibrahim's lover and cine actress Mandakini found shelter after Mumbai blasts.

*ISI-backed Mumbai Mafiosi, on VIP abduction mission arrested at KG Halli in 1998.

*Deendar Anjuman activists arrested for planning church blasts.

*AP police often picks up suspected naxalites from rented houses in Bangalore.

*September 2002, the militant Imam Ali and his associates, under false names, claiming to be timber merchants had rented out a house at M S Ramaiah Layout.

Dos

*Ask for your tenant's identity card (especially if he is a student)

*Take the help of local real estate agents to find a tenant.

*Be suspicious of anyone who is ready to pay double the rent prevalent in the area.

*If your tenant says he was transferred from one place to another ask for the transfer order.

*If party looks okay and reliable, ask for his or her office address and number and verify it.

*If possible collect a photograph too. And it is not harmful to inform the nearest police station about the tenant's credentials.

Don'ts

*Don't trust a stranger.

*Don't go by the gut feeling.

*Don't give a flat without verifying the credentials.

*Don't trust them when they say they are students and want a flat for few months.