In this guide 8 sections
Public reporting confirms that Bengaluru city police launched a voluntary web portal for PG guest details, and that the civic body was drafting PG rules. Do not rely on a blog for current obligations. Ask your local police station and the civic body what applies to your building.
Start with what is on record
Reports from November 2023 say Bengaluru has about 5,000 PGs and that the police began a web portal where owners could upload guest details. The Police Commissioner called it voluntary. It was first tried with PGs in Marathahalli.
That is the extent of what we can confirm from sources we opened. Anything beyond it, including penalties or fees, needs a check against an official page.
The civic body and its framework
The same report said the civic body, then called BBMP, had no PG-specific regulations at that time and was working on a framework. Ideas mentioned included limits on occupants per room and safety standards.
We could not confirm whether that framework has been notified. The civic structure of the city has also been changing, so ask which office handles your ward before you assume.
Questions to put to the police station
Walk into the police station that covers your building. Ask what they expect from PG owners today, in writing if possible. Rules and practice differ between stations and years.
Keep the answer with your records. A dated note of what you asked and who replied is useful if someone later questions your compliance.
- Is tenant verification expected for every guest, and by what date?
- Is the web portal still in use, and is uploading expected or optional?
- Which forms and ID copies do you accept?
- Who is the contact officer for PG matters?
Questions to put to the civic body and fire services
Ask the civic office whether a trade licence or any PG registration applies to your building type and size. Ask about occupancy limits and about building use, since a residential building run as a PG may be treated differently.
Fire safety is worth a separate question. Ask the fire department what is expected for the number of floors and beds you run.
Keep records that answer these questions anyway
Whatever the rule, three records protect an owner: tenant ID and verification papers, a dated agreement, and payment receipts. These are the first things asked in any inspection or dispute.
Store them where you can pull one tenant’s file in a minute. A PG management system keeps them against each tenant and flags papers still pending.
Put the advice to work.
Use a test copy or fictional example to turn the discussion into something your team can check.
Keep records that answer these questions anyway
Can the same receipt be allocated without counting the money twice?
Take an unallocated amount in “Keep records that answer these questions anyway” and apply it to the intended balance. Review the remaining amount and the original receipt reference together.
Background reading: ERPNext: payment allocation
Questions to carry to the police and civic offices
A one-page question list in two columns. The left column is headed police station and the right is headed civic body and fire services. Each row holds a question, a blank for the answer, the name of the officer and the date of the visit.
Open a blank worksheet to printQuestions owners ask
Is the Bengaluru police PG portal mandatory?
The 2023 report described it as voluntary. Confirm the current position with your police station, as it may have changed.
Is there a licence to run a PG in Bengaluru?
We could not confirm a PG-specific licence from official sources. Ask the civic body whether any registration or trade licence applies to your building.
Do I need police verification of every PG tenant?
Police advice in several cities is to verify tenants. For Bengaluru, ask your local station what they expect and keep the acknowledgement.
Where can I find the official rules?
Start with the Bengaluru city police and Karnataka State Police websites and the civic body’s office for your ward. Treat blogs, including this one, as a starting point.