Subletting of TNHB flats brings in security concerns

With sections of the housing colony being sub-let by the original tenants, who in turn reside in houses elsewhere as per their convenience, the bona fide TNHB residents here complain of a lack of security and the resulting dominance of anti-social activities in the locality.

While occupants of the relatively better-off houses in the ‘B’ section of the housing colony face no issues, those occupying in the C and D sections are the worst affected from the problem created by the original tenants of these apartments. Raking in around Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 as profit from sub-letting the apartments, the original tenants, in turn, occupy private houses near their workplaces, reliable sources in the housing colony here said.

Though the residential units, constructed in the early nineties, are in various stages of impairment, it is still home to those who work in Ranipet, Arcot or Walajahpet-as the latter two localities are in dearth of housing facility.

Such tenants involving in subletting also appear to be equipped to avoid facing legal action. When officials from the Vellore Housing Unit (VHU) come for the bi-annual flat inspection, the original tenants call up the sub-tenants and ask them to leave the house for half a day. The house is then locked, and if asked why, neighbours are cajoled into stating that the owners are away at work. Sources added that though VHU officials are aware of such malpractice, they turn a blind eye.

Bona fide residents of the TNHB colony rue the lack of security as a result of the practice. “This has led to us being unable to ensure our own security,” a bon fide tenant on condition of anonymity said. “As the area is open, it is used by anti-socials at night for binge drinking, and if we complain to the police, it results in [them throwing] rotten eggs at parked four wheelers [here] or the seats of two wheelers slit torn,” he added. “We also fear that when we are not at home, ‘outsiders’ might attack our families,” another resident and government employee said.

“A murder in 2016 resulted in the IVPM (Institute of Veterinary and Preventive Medicine) whose campus abuts the colony raising a wall, but the other three sides are open,” a woman resident said, highlighting the lack of security here.