PG House Rules in Tricity — What to Ask Before You Move In
A PG is someone’s house that you live in — which means the rules are personal, unwritten, and different in every building. The difference between a great PG year and a miserable one is almost always whether you asked the right questions before paying. Here are the ones that matter in Tricity.
The ten questions to ask the owner
- Is there a curfew, and is it enforced for everyone equally?
- Can guests visit? Until what time? Are opposite-gender guests allowed in common areas?
- What are the food timings, and what happens if you miss dinner?
- How is electricity billed — included, sub-metered, or split? What does AC actually cost?
- Is wifi included, and what is the real speed at 10pm?
- What is the notice period to leave, and is the deposit refundable?
- Who cleans the rooms and bathrooms, and how often?
- Is there a washing machine, and is laundry included or charged?
- What is the parking situation for a scooty or car?
- Can you see the room at your actual move-in date, not a "similar" one?
The Tricity-specific ones
Two things bite people here specifically. First, AC billing in summer: many PGs include "AC" but run it on a timer or bill ₹1,500-₹2,500 extra per month from April to September — get the number in writing. Second, the July rush: when PU and CU admissions close, the good PGs in Sectors 14-15 and Manimajra fill within weeks, and some owners quietly raise rents for the last rooms. Booking early locks the price you saw.
Etiquette that keeps the peace
- Tell the owner your rough schedule — night-shift folks and early risers coexist fine when everyone knows.
- Use headphones after 11pm; PG walls are thin and Tricity PGs are dense.
- Label your food in the shared fridge if there is one. This prevents 90% of PG conflicts.
- Pay rent on the same date every month. It is the single biggest factor in how much slack you get on everything else.
When a rule is a dealbreaker
Rules are fine — they are how a house works. Dealbreakers are rules that change after you pay: a sudden "guests no longer allowed", a curfew that applies only to some tenants, or an AC bill that doubles with no meter. If a rule changes mid-stay without discussion, that is not a house rule, that is a landlord improvising — and it is your sign to start looking elsewhere, owner-direct, on StayLok.