Broker refusing brokerage refund after unlivable flat (Bangalore) – need advice

[User_80612388]

U

User_80612388
PARTICIPANT
April 26, 2026 at 1:16 pm

Hey guys,

Need some advice on a bad rental experience in Bangalore.

I rented a flat through a broker (Liva Properties). Brokerage was ₹25,000, but I was told to handle pest control myself and deduct it, so I ended up paying a net of ₹23,800 (₹1,200 pest control).

**Issues from day 1:**

* Flat was extremely dirty — dead cockroaches, unhygienic kitchen
* Kitchen cabinets were rusty, broken, and unusable (even found a lizard inside)
* Same night: heavy cockroach infestation
* Later discovered a strong sewage smell from the bathroom

I kept following up with the broker + owner, but **no response for 2 weeks**. The house was basically unlivable, so I moved out within ~15 days.

Now the broker is:

* Refusing full brokerage refund
* Saying he’ll return maybe ~₹10K only
* Deducting pest control (even though it should’ve been done before move-in)
* Adding a random ₹5K “service charge”
* Claiming part of the brokerage was already given to the building manager, so it can’t be returned

This feels completely unfair since the flat wasn’t even in livable condition and nothing was fixed despite repeated follow-ups.

**Questions:**

* Is this normal/legal?
* Can brokerage be recovered in such cases?
* Has anyone dealt with something similar in Bangalore?
* Is consumer court worth it for this amount?

Any help would be appreciated 🙏

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