short term accomodation mumbai

I will be doing a three month project in CapGemini, India, at Mumbai location which is at SEP2-B3, Godrej Industries
Complex, Eastern Express Highway, Vikhroli, Mumbai 400079.
I will be given a stipend of only 10000rs per month. Any suggestions on how can I get an apartment/guest
house/serviced apartments(if they exist for my budget). I am currently in Baroda, Gujarat. I realize apartments are
very expensive, but is food, transport, internet also so? I am a 25 year old male, but have never visited Mumbai before. What are the things I should be aware of in a place like Mumbai? The company is not going to help me with anything at all. I am the only one who seems to have a got a project in Mumbai. Rest of my friends are in other areas. Any other suggestions would be appreciated on how to live thriftily in an expensive place on a very limited budget. I am flexible with the living place as long as it is safe and affordable. Also, I don't know Marathi at all.
Some have suggested to get a place which is little far from Mumbai for my budget.

I don't know present Mumbai apartment rates well but suggest

look at paying guest accomodation around vikhroli with breakfast. Staying close to work will minimise transport costs too.

Mumbai is not obviously that more expensive for food cooked at home. But eating out is more expensive, even cheaper places are dearer than elsewhere.

Internet and other costs wont vary much from where you are. Even transport on its own is not expensive BUT since greater distances, greater costs. (also headache)

10000 a month as stipend for a temp assignment is very much doable around Vikhroli. Accomodation will be your single most expensive item, so be careful with that.

I wonder if there are 'guest house rooms' in Vikhroli like they are all over the country, for the single, young, just joined BPO crowd. That may be another option.

Thanks for your reply.

How does PG(Paying Guest) work? From what I have read on the Web most places don't like newcomers without references and high income and ask for 10-11 months deposit? Is that right?
Understandable, like any other place, but for cooking at home you need a kitchen, gas connection(hard to get for a newcomer in city for just three months) and don't know how many people will allow stove in their homes? It would be great where I stay as a PG could also provide meals for me, but doubt if I can find one quickly(particularly when I don't know anyone here).
Yes, but since rent is higher there people have to be compensated more so the services cost more. Here in Baroda, Gujarat you can get BSNL broadband(256kbps with 1GB download) for 125/month and 256kbps with unlimited download for 750rs per month) which is bound to be more in Mumbai. Regarding transport here we have some shared auto system(where there are four-five passengers in an auto for a common destination) where you can travel some 6km for 7rs. So, you end up paying 14rs/day or about 450/month on transport. I hear there are mainly taxis which are very expensive and overcharge newcomers a lot. But, yes the buses(BEST there) and suburban trains are a boon for people like me I presume.
Question is how do find one which is affordable quickly and for a short term without a huge deposit or real estate
agent fees? Browsing on maakan and ebay and mumbai real estate sites makes me feel there are hardly any?
What documents are typically required to rent a house or stay as a PG(Paying Guest)? Do people take folks like me whose income is so low for a place like Mumbai? Is Vikhroli outside the main city, safe?
So, do I hope, but it seems there aren't any from what I have searched. Obviously, my knowledge about that city is next to nil.

Thanks for your time and suggestions.

I had a German friend who used to work for capgemini and was in India for about a year.He used to live at powai.

Take a look at yahoo maps
Then find out which are the good locations to live around Vikhroli and then start looking for paying guest accommodation in that area

Thanks for the reply.

I will look at that location.
Thanks. Regarding locations I don't have any preference as long as they are affordable and safe. Do people allow PG(paying guest) accommodation for three months?

Thanks for your advice and time.

Yes, you should be able to get PG accomodation for 3 months. No lease is signed (or any 'leave and licence' agreement)

vvv:

yup - as the cap'n said - live as close to your place of work as possible - travel in mumbai compares to no other city in india...

yes again - get a paying guest accomodation - try and share the room with another - its possible, most folks do so - and will cut down your costs by half.
PG landlords do take an advance - it differs from area to area.
generally - in a PG accomodation, electricity + water expenses are inclusive.

food: there are dabbawallah's avaiable - i.e. home-cooked meals delivered to your doorstep in a tiffin carrier - minimal costs + healthier - as opposed to eating out.

will try and find out more about vikroli and accomodation in a couple of days and post.



:brishti

Hello,

First day you go to office and tell some of your co-workers that you need accommodation for couple of months. I am pretty sure they will help you in arranging something or the other.

I have a contact who provides PG in an area called Mulund which is aproximately 5 odd kms away from your office. I had this mail for reference. You can follow up with the following.

• The contact name: rajesh ranade
• email id: tourways (at) yahoo (dot) com
• Call: Rajesh on 093240 70687
• Location Mulund East (Gavanpada area.)
• 7 people can stay in one flat. ()
• Food washing machine, laundry etc etc. will be provided
• Per person rate offered:
  • Non AC : 8000 food, laundy per person.
  • AC: 10000 food, laundy

Here is the mail i had from him.

Introducing Bachelors home in Mulund. In Mumbai on sharing basis accommodation is available

Homely Atmosphere:

• PROVIDING: Ac rooms, Play room ,dinning room washing &laundry facility, Delicious food, cable TV, internet broadband service, Car on hire, rail &air booking,
• RENT: on monthly basis, (including all facility)
  SECURITY: one month rent only

Cheers
Hymz

Thanks for your reply.
Does that mean I pay my landlord three month's rent in advance, stay for three months and then quit?
Did I understand you correctly?
Although, I also don't prefer legal agreements(I have heard for such things you pay 4000 for lawyer fees, court charges and so on as legal agreements are done in court in front of a judge) it is told it is secure so that somebody does not throw you outside in the middle of night. Someone I know told me his friend was given a flat in Mumbai, through a real estate agent. He paid ten months advance(and broker fees to the real estate agent) to a person who actually did not own the place(but claimed to be the owner), signed a fabricated lease agreement without checking the credentials(sale deed etc.) of the owner. The real owner came and threw my friend out after two months. So, he lost eight month's rent and was stranded. Don't know if it is common or not there?
Hope I have better luck there.

Thanks for your advice and time.

brishti,

Thanks for your reply.

Do they ask for any documents like proof of income etc? In Gujarat, they typically ask for such things before renting to a out of state/city person. The copy of lease agreement goes to the local police station as well. Anything like this there?

Is my estimate the rent in Vikhroli now for a paying guest should be less than 8000 in a safe area in the proper range? And, is web or agents or newspaper the correct way to get them? Obviously, the most advisable is through references which is difficult for me as I don't know anyone there.

Thanks very much. Your time and assistance is appreciated.

Hello,

Thanks for your reply and contact info of the agent.
This may help, but I want to prepare from my side as much as I can. I have experienced in my previous places of work the most people at work can do is provide numbers of some brokers or refer me to the web/newspaper.
A budget hotel costs some 1000 per day(through web search if I do not get the Salvation Army which seems hard to get), so even if I stay for 7 days in a hotel I lose 7000 out of my 10,000 stipend. Well, I realize Mumbai is not the place for people on meager income like me, but I don't have a choice.

Hello VVV,

The number is not of an agent, but the landlord of the property. The rates mentioned are monthly for Accommodation + Food + Laundry. Its total care. if you talk to him right now, he will block a bed/ room for you. If this is available, why would you look any further?

Secondly, Bombay is very helpful, if you know how to ask. You can check up with HR lady, if any batch of freshers joined recently at Cap Gemini. Pretty sure hundreds join in July when college freshers join in. Take their phone number numbers and see if anyone needs a partner. You can also check with your Project manager.

Cheers
Hymz

vvv, don't worry overmuch about the pg arrangement. Some advance would be payable- negotiate. Say you will pay in advance for the month.

Finding out at the workplace is a good idea, too.