My Street in Delhi
Finding a house in Delhi wasn’t easy. Because the hostel I was staying in was so nice, I wasn’t tempted to move into sub-par lodgings. The only thing enticing me to leave the hostel at all was the fact that I didn’t want to live in a dorm for three plus months. For me, it was important that my house be located in a safe area. It had to be clean(ish) and most importantly, I wanted to share with people who I could be friends with since, as a new comer in this big city, social connections are important to avoid loneliness.
Here is a little of the wisdom I acquired in my house hunt:
1. Join all the Facebook groups you can find!
In Delhi, the best way to find out about available housing is Facebook groups. I joined all the groups including:
Flat on Rent Flatmates in South Delhi
Expat Looking for Accommodation in New Delhi
Flats and Flatmates – Delhi NCR
Flat & flatmates (south delhi chapter)
Expat looking apartments in delhi
Delhi and NCR flats and flatmates
2. Seek out posts in which people have told you a little about themselves or the vibe in their flat.
Because, for me the social aspect of living with people was important, I was most keen to look at places where the flatmates took the time to describe the living situation in their flat. There are so many posts on all the pages that simply outline the flat “specs” but fail to describe the people or atmosphere.
3. Send messages that tell your potential flatmates a little about yourself.
If you care about relating to your flatmates on a personal level, chances are you’re going to want to live with people who also value the social element of shared accommodations. When you reply to Facebook postings about flats in Delhi, be sure to include a little bit about yourself, your interests and what you’re looking for in a flat/flatmates. This will set you apart from other flat hunters and hopefully connect you with people who share some of your values.
4. When you send messages to potential flatmates/landlords through Facebook, makes sure to also comment on the post letting them know that you have messaged them.
This is important because often, if you’re not friends with people, your messages can get lost in the “other” folder. Also, it puts your name out there as someone looking for a flat which can send leads your way and help you to network.
5. Ask for photos.
Delhi is not the easiest city to get around. Addresses can be very difficult to locate. Sometimes going to see a place can take all afternoon. For these reasons, it’s good to get some idea of what the place looks like before you depart on the quest to find the flat.
5. Ask about landlord interference.
In Vancouver, landlord interference is never an issue so, before house hunting in Delhi, it would never have occurred to me to ask about it. In Delhi however, some landlords dictate who can come to visit you and when and have a watchful eye on your comings and goings. For me, this kind of living situation doesn’t suit and I would have been disappointed to find myself in a house where visitors from home couldn’t stay with me and friends couldn’t come over to visit.
6. You don’t need a broker.
Brokers can help you find a flat. They generally charge 15 days rent as a fee for their services. Some of the Facebook groups I posted above are curated by brokers however, I don’t think their services are really necessary. If you have the time, it’s very possible to organize housing on your own.
7. Network!
This house hunting experience in Delhi was the first time I networked over the internet. Because I was constantly posting on all the flat groups, I started getting messages from others who were seeking flatmates or had flats to rent. There were girls from Amsterdam I clicked with and we started house hunting together. While we didn’t end up finding a place together, now that they’ve arrived in Delhi we’ve become friends. And they’re not the only friends I made through house hunting.
In person networking is important too. Tell everyone you meet that you’re looking for a flat. You never know who might know someone. Most things in India are done through social connections.
8. Ask about the TOTAL cost of living there.
Prices posted on Facebook are only the basic rent. In most cases, you will have to pay for electricity, wifi, water, staff, garbage etc. on top of the posted price. I found it helpful to ask the flatmates what they generally paid monthly to give me some idea of what it would actually cost me. It seemed that if rent was 17k, it worked out to a maximum of 20k after expenses. Of course, the time of year also impacts electricity because air conditioning is expensive.
9. Check for a water filter and a dedicated gas line.
The place I moved into has a water filter mounted on the wall of the kitchen. While this is not essential, it’s a super bonus because it eliminates the need to buy bottled water.
Most places have gas stoves that attach to a cylinder that hides under the counter. I’ve heard that these cylinders can be a real hassle to acquire and refill so if you find a place with a dedicated gas line, consider that in your decision making process. (They’re not super common.)
10. A cook and/or maid are a bonus.
It never occurred to me that I would want a maid and a cook but after living here for a while, I’ve discovered the importance of having household staff. Because of the pollution in Delhi, everything is covered in dust, all the time. A daily sweep and/or mop is essential. Without someone to do at least a surface cleaning every day, it’s hard to stay on top of the constantly amassing grime.
A cook is an added bonus. In our house we buy the vegetables and our cook comes every morning and prepares a daal and some sort of vegetable dish as well as roti. It’s really great to wake up and have something to eat for breakfast or take for lunch. I find it hard to find a lot of the ingredients I usually cook with at home so meal planning can be a challenge. Having someone who prepares at least one meal a day alleviates some of this pressure.
Q and A:
What are gated colonies?
As a young woman, gated colonies are the way to go. Many housing areas in Delhi are gated meaning there are fences that run the periphery of the development and gates which are closed after 11pm. this means that it’s safe to walk around at night. You can still get home late through the main gate which is left open but guarded all night.
What does DDA stand for?
DDA apartments are housing complexes/apartments that were build by the Delhi Development Authority (government body). The quality of housing varies depending on the age of the development. Newer ones tend to house smaller flats as the DDA has begun trying to accommodate the swelling urban population. All of the apartments should look the same (it’s illegal to renovate these flats) however you’ll notice that does’t deter everyone from renovating. I learned that the city can come and demolish any construction you do if they so please.
Which neighbourhood is best?
While there are good flats to be found in all of South Delhi, there are some areas where the hunt is a little more hopeful. All the flats I looked at in Safdarjung were nice. Similarly, the prospects in Hauz Khas, Green park and Panchsheel Park are good. Of course though, with these “good” addresses comes a higher price tag. Malviya Nagar tends to be a bit cheaper however there are lots of dingy places. It seems that the closer you stick to the periphery, the better your chances of finding a nice place. Try to avoid the Khirki Extension. If you’re willing to go a bit farther a field, Saket is also nice. I ended up a little West in Munirka and, while it’s a little bit farther from my work, the metro and the hub of south Delhi, I really like the neighbourhood. It also has perks like cheaper shopping and close proximity to Jawaharlal Nehru University.