Acc.. within reasonable distance from Richmond Plaza

Blowball

Hello,

I might be working near Richmond Plaza / Residency Road (near the tennis courts) soon. Which parts of town are within reasonable distance and recommendable?
How much would rent for a small apartment be? Furnished or unfurnished (should not be too difficult to get a simple bed somewhere to start out with, should it?).
What does the accommodation type PG mean?

Thank you.

PS: What are the pitfalls when looking for accommodation in Bangalore or India in general? Is there a kind of checklist of things one should watch out for?

Haze

Hi BB

The only thing I can help you with is the PG thing. PG = Paying Guest. Kind of like a B&B, except long-term.

HTH

Hazel

Blowball

Ok, thanks.

Prashant.M

You can stay right behind Richmond road or Residency road but the rents will be on the higher side. The rents in the areas around there like Richmond town, Langford road, St Marks road will also be on the higher side. I can recommend a few places but not sure of the rent.

1. Shantinagar - Nice place, rent might be high
2. Austin Town - Not sure if you will like the area. Rent is around Rs.10000 to 15000
3. Victoria Road - Again rent might be on the higher side
4. Frazer town, Cooks town etc. - Nice place. Quite a few of my single friends stay here but its not near your place of work, rents are around Rs.9000 to 10000 for 2bedroom, unfurnished apartment. This place would be 30 mins to 45 mins commute from Richmond road.
5. Indiranagar - Nice place. Rents might be in the range of 15000 to 20000 but not sure. 30 to 45 mins commute during peak hours.
6. Domlur - Between Indiranagar & Victoria road, nearer to Indiranagar, rent might be lower than Indiranagar but not sure. Don't know the area much.

Best thing would be to stay for while as a PG near work place, get your bearings and then make your move. My friends when they moved from a different city had the option of staying in a company guest house or hotel for a month.

__________________
Happiness is just a thought away

Blowball

Thank you for that detailed response
Does PG mean sharing the bathroom with a family? I am asking because I have lived alone for about 15 years now and would probably have a very hard time sharing an apartment. I am so used to my private space ...

Are those rents you have stated with or without utilities?

Two bedroom, lol, currently I live in a 150 sqft apartment and I would be happy to find something similarly compact

Prashant.M

You should get your own bathroom but better to ask before-hand.
Not sure what utilities are. If you mean washing machine, dishwasher etc. then no; these will be all unfurnished, bare apartments. If you mean utilities like backup power, telephone lines, cable connections then these should be available. Backup power will be available in most apartment buildings but the capacity varies. There was some thread about what 100% power backup means. Found it, there you go, http://www.indiamike.com/india/showthread.php?p=336469
If you are pretty flexible about the locality and slightly on the distance from office then you should be able to save on rent, but I would not recommend too far from office. Commuting is quite a hassle in Bangalore and what you save on rent will be lost in the commute plus all the stress.

Blowball

By utilities I meant electricity, gas and water. If they are not included, are they expensive there? In some European countries they amount to a 'second rent'.

Yes, I guess I will go for the PG option at first

Prashant.M

Electricity and water will be available. Don't rent the place if not. You will have to pay the monthly bills and they will amount to a fraction of your rent. For example I pay Rs.700 - 800 electricity bill (no AC) and Rs.150 water bill every month. This is for two people and includes watering a small garden every other day .

Gas will not be available. We do not get piped gas here. Its in cylinders and you will have a purchase a gas stove and cylinder. Cylinders can be purchased from private or public (govt. owned companies). Private company cylinders will be costlier than public cos. However for public company cylinders you will have to pay a deposit and become a member at the local dealer. There used to be huge waiting lists to become members but that was more than 5 years back. Don't know what the situation is now. Deposit is refundable I think but not sure. The gas cylinder will be delivered to your house. People here subscribe to two cylinders so that when one goes empty, the other one can immediately be hooked up; then call up the dealer and book a fresh cylinder. All this membership thing is short-circuited if you opt for a private dealer. Then I think you can just go and purchase a cylinder, of course you will have to pay for deposit, gas regulator and tubing. Don't know much about this as I have never used private gas utility. Forgotten the price also . Maybe an expat will come along and help you out.

Blowball

Thanks
If I don't need gas, even better. Here in Portugal and Spain a lot of people still have to do the gas cylinder thingy as there are few gas lines. I am happy I don't, I've never trusted gas
Less than 1000 INR for utilities, that seems quite fair

Prashant.M

You don't have to use gas, instead you can always use an electric stove or a microwave oven but the power cuts are quite frequent, especially in summer. So you will have to find an apartment that has 100% power backup, which brings us back quite neatly in a full circle

biggan69

Well, I think i have the perfect place for you,
Its a small outhouse in the garden of my house.
Its about 350 sq ft with a small kitchen, a hall. a bedroom with an attached toilet and fully furnished. It is about three fourths of a km away from Richmond circle on Lavelle road which is part of downtown Bangalore and all the nightlife and restaurants are within half a km from my place. If interested you can call me on 091- 9900136607