Renting an Apartment in Hyderabad

LinguaFranca

Hi. So, I am seeking some advice. I am a female student in my early 20s and am moving to Hyderabad in a month to start a MA program in Linguistics at the University of Osmania. I have a everything in order (documents etc) except for housing. Ideally I would like to live in a safe/urbane part of the city. I have started researching neighborhoods, etc. and have looked in the Deccan Chronicle and some Hyderabadi expat sites; however, I would prefer to live with a family or in a single room apartment.

Does anyone have any advice or information about single room apartments for women in Hyderabad. I am white, not religious. I have lived abroad before (in St. Petersburg, Russia) but have no idea what renting an apartment in India will be like. I am on a stipend, so I can't afford too much, probably max. 300/US dollars a month, and I would like to live in an apartment rather than a house. If anyone has any info about apartments or good communities for young people to live in, I would be incredibly thankful.

Also, if anyone has any opinions to share about the graduate programs at Osmania University; I know very little about the state of academics.

Thanks again every one!

Ashley

capt_mahajan

You don't say how long the programme is. Short term (less than 11 months) rentals can be problematic.

Anyway, first off, I would advise against fixing anything unseen.

Your budget is ok, but most rental apartments are completely unfurnished- probably not even fans. Even the few furnished apartments may be threadbare. Your budget may well cover the cost of the additionals, but it will be a bit of a headache to setup.

Most Indian students living offcampus may be in 'hostels' (a block of cheap rooms for students). Some may be sharing an apartment. Oncampus rooms in Indian universities- even if available- are often poorly maintained and not too clean, although I don't know about Osmania. However, they are relatively hassle free. Worth looking at the possibility.

Unfortunately, Hyderabad does not have a great culture of paying guest accomodation- in which a family rents out a furnished room in their apartment to a single outsider. However, areas near the University may have some, I don't know. Such an arrangement is cheapish and hassle free- they probably will give you breakfast too.

In your place, I would look at residential areas close to the University and I would ask the university if they have any recommeded paying guest places or other such. And I would land up after making temporary arrangements and look around.And I would keep in mind that summers will be searing, with over 40C temperatures. But that is next year now.


Would not advise a foreign female student in her 20's to fix a paying guest arrangement without a strong recommendation. Not that Hyderabad is unsafe, generally speaking. Suggest find a middle class kind of area reasonably close to the univ.


PS: You must have seen this already- from the University website

http://www.osmania.ac.in/UFRO/F_VC_Speach.htm

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Outside the machine

baba420

Hi,
your best bet is to find a apartment in DD colony(DurgaBhai Deshmukh colony which is adjacent to the campus and is walking distance from the campus, iam sure you will be able to get a place in your price tag, there are few working women hostels in that area, but single or double bedroom apt should be a better option, if you need any help hollar at me,
regards,
baba.

LinguaFranca

Thanks for the quick response every one. I will definitely look into that part of the city. My program is 2 years, though I currently only have a scholarship for one year.

I have contacted the UFRO at Osmania (though thanks to your comment I called them again and got a little more information). They do provide housing for students, but I can only get housing once I arrive, register and, of course, pay for school.

Anyway, again, thanks to every one who responded! Though I will undoubtedly have more questions in the near future

BitchesBrew

Just a wild guess this: Try contacting Alliance Francaise and Goethe Zentrum in Hyderabad. They seem to be quite proactive in promoting/facilitating this sort of inter-cultural exchange. Plus it would *feel* safer if it came from them. The big question is would they be interested if you weren't French or German? I reckon the only way to find out is by asking them!

rajnag

LinguaFranca,
My in laws have an independent house with two portions in the sainikpuri area.The first floor (ground floor in india) is currently empty.You are looking for an apartment, but it is a very safe area considering that retired and serving defense personnel live in that general area.
In case you don't find anything you can always think of this as an option. PM me if you need any help.
BTW I used to live with my family in NY !

VivaPamplona

One other option. Reach out to the TEA expat organization (www.hytea.org) as they always know of apartments for rent in the city from exiting expats. They may also know of expats in town that might have rooms to rent (many expats, like myself have big houses with some rooms/bathrooms we never use).

harsha

Hello Ashley,

First of all congratulations on your admission into MA program at OU.

I am a native of Hyderabad living in Delhi at present. Osmania University is located in the centre of the city and it is pretty safe area. There are lot of good areas nearby where you can stay. I would recommend Tarnaka, Durgabhai Deshmukh Colony and Vidyanagar.

Since you are there for two years, I would advice you to get a nice one bedroom apartment which you can furnish in your own style. Lease deeds are not a problem and in Hyderabad, it is very easy to get a house without any lease deed by paying two or three months rent as advance. Also, the rent in Hyderabad for an unfurnished two bedroom apartment would be around 150-200 USD inclusive of electricity. IF anyone is asking for more than that please do not take that place as you are getting conned.

My uncle is a professor and head of the commerce department, Osmania University and I can speak to him and make sure that you can get university accommodation if you want. However, please call up the university and find out what kind of accommodation are they giving. If you are going to stay in one room in a hostel and if you are okay with that, then I can speak to him.

DO let me know if you need any help.

LinguaFranca

Hey RajNag -

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. My living situation has not been decided and the ground floor of an apartment in a sleepy part of town sounds pretty good.

I arrive in Hyderabad in two weeks - would it be possible to contact your parents and see the place once I get there?
Let me know if they still have not found a person to rent it.

Where did you live in NYC??? I miss it so so much!!

All the best!

Ashley

LinguaFranca

Hey Harsha -

Thank you so so much for the response and congrats! I am so so excited.

I have contacted the university and they say that no, they do not provide housing for graduate students. Of course, that could change once I get there (I have a feeling they don't fully understand my American accent on scratchy, hard-to-undrestand Skype But if your uncle knows of any rooms or apartments for rent I would be much much appreciative!!

Let me know what you think. Also, I don't check this list as often as I should, so feel free to email me at ashley.cleek@gmail.com

Thanks a million!

rajnag

Ashley,
I'm in bangalore currently pursuing some professional opportunities. I will most probably be back in hyderabad next week. I'll talk to them about you. if they still don't have a tenant in a couple of weeks and they haven't signed out a lease, you are most welcome.
I'll ask my friends in that part of the town and see if i can show some alternatives in case this doesn't work out.

I used to live in white plains(not exactly NYC) but I would go into the city at least two days a week in the vicinity of china town(thomas street) for martial art practice.
Plus the shopping trips to century 21 and other places. If you're still out there and you want to indulge your self in that last bout of shopping, check out this site, superfuture.com

LinguaFranca

I used to go to White Plains all the time! I lived in Brooklyn but worked as a reporter, so I was driving and taking trains all over the place.

Let me know if they are still looking for a tenant. I arrive in Hyderabad on Wed. the 15th. I am looking into every and all possible housing situations, but I would like to live with someone from Hyderabad if possible.

Thanks for the response and help! Also, feel free to email me at ashley.cleek@gmail.com because I don't check IndiaMike so often.

Cheers!

Soujanya

Hi,I've just emailed you! Check it out!

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Keep smiling! Soujanya

LinguaFranca

Hey rajnag -

So, I have been looking and asking people about apartments and have yet to find one. Do your parents still need a renter for the bottom floor? I have looked at hostels with some other people from this list - who are so incredibly sweet and amazing!! - but I would rather rent an apartment and would prefer is someone else was living there simply for safety's sake. If there place is still open, email me and we can find a time to meet up. ashley.cleek@gmail.com

All the best -

Ash

rajnag

Hi,
I have messaged you at your email address. You can talk to my wife and sort it all out. I'm still in bangalore.

Raj