Delhi Proposes PG Registration, Rent Caps

The Delhi government has proposed a new regulatory framework for paying guest accommodations across the capital,

days after the death of seven people in the Satya Niketan PG building collapse.

The proposed ‘Paying Guest Accommodation Regulation and Welfare Bill’ seeks to bring PGs under a formal system covering registration,

rent, security, safety standards and grievance redressal.

The framework is aimed particularly at major student and coaching hubs such as Mukherjee Nagar,

Laxmi Nagar, Rajendra Nagar and North Campus, where large numbers of students depend on private PG accommodation.

Under the proposed framework, every PG operating in Delhi would have to register and obtain an operating licence from the concerned zoning authority within 90 days.

Operators would need to obtain no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the police, municipal corporation and local administration as part of the registration process.

Each approved accommodation would be allotted a unique Paying Guest Registration Number (PGRN).

Details of verified PGs would then be made available through a proposed single-window digital platform.

The move is intended to create a formal database of PG accommodations and make it easier for students to verify whether a property is authorised before taking accommodation.

The proposed bill also seeks to regulate rental practices and address complaints of high deposits and arbitrary rent demands.

A Rent Regulation Committee has been proposed to establish area-wise rent bands for PG accommodations.

Under the proposal, PG operators cannot charge more than three months' rent as a security deposit.

Advance rent would also be capped at three months.

Tenants would have to provide a 30-day notice before leaving the accommodation.

Operators would not be permitted to charge different rents based on gender, caste, religion or state of origin.

These provisions are aimed at bringing greater transparency to the financial arrangements between PG operators and students.

Safety requirements form a major part of the proposed legislation.

CCTV cameras would be mandatory at all entrances and common areas of registered PG accommodations.

Operators would have to preserve the recorded footage for 30 days.

PGs housing 15 or more students would also be required to deploy security guards during the night.

The proposed framework further calls for maintenance of visitor registers,

availability of a warden within a 500-metre radius, and compliance with prescribed safety and security standards.

The government has proposed a dedicated GovPG portal that would allow students to access information about verified PG accommodations.

The portal is expected to provide details such as rent, available amenities and security arrangements.

Students would also be able to lodge complaints anonymously.

The proposed legislation is a significant step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of students living in PG accommodations in Delhi.

It is expected to bring greater transparency and accountability to the PG industry,

and provide students with a more secure and reliable living environment.