Help! Landlord asked me to vacate without any proper grounds but we respectfully vacated before notice period, promised prorated rent, then changed the rules after I moved out. Do I have a case?
Hi St.Broseph
I'm looking for some advice regarding a tenancy dispute in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
I rented a room with my friend under a written Residential Tenancy Agreement. We paid ₹25,000 rent every month in advance and had a security deposit of ₹65,000.
On 10 June 2026, our landlord sent us an email stating that he was terminating our tenancy because of concerns raised by the other occupants of the house. The email gave us four weeks' notice but also specifically said that if we found alternative accommodation earlier, we were welcome to vacate and "rent and applicable charges will be adjusted on a prorated basis up to your actual move-out date."
By that time, the atmosphere in the house had become quite hostile due to issues with the other occupants. We felt it was best to leave as soon as possible, so we found another place and vacated on 15 June.
We had already paid the entire month's rent (₹25,000) in advance for June.
A couple of weeks later, the landlord emailed us saying he had already found a new tenant who would move in on 1 July. He also returned our security deposit (after deducting ₹6,000 for painting and deep cleaning, which is mentioned in the agreement, so I am not disputing that deduction).
However, he refused to refund the unused rent for 16 June to 30 June (₹12,500).
His reason was that we had not arranged a replacement tenant before vacating, and therefore there was no refundable balance.
Here's where I'm confused:
- Our tenancy agreement does not contain any clause requiring the outgoing tenant to find a replacement tenant.
- His original termination email also never mentioned that prorated rent depended on us finding a replacement tenant.
- In fact, the email expressly stated that rent would be adjusted on a prorated basis up to our actual move-out date if we vacated early after finding alternative accommodation.
- Only after we had vacated did he say that no refund was due because we hadn't arranged a replacement tenant.
So it feels like the condition changed after we had already acted based on his written notice.
I've sent him a detailed email pointing out these inconsistencies and requesting the refund of ₹12,500.
My questions are:
Am I interpreting the tenancy agreement and his emails correctly?
Can a landlord introduce a new condition (finding a replacement tenant) after the tenant has already vacated when that condition isn't in the agreement or the termination notice?
If he refuses to refund the ₹12,500, what would be the best course of action in Karnataka? A legal notice, civil suit, or something else?
I'd really appreciate any advice and legal support, especially from lawyers or anyone who's dealt with similar tenancy disputes.
Thank you!