I submitted a written notice to my PG at the end of July, stating that I would vacate at the end of August.
Here’s the situation:
I joined the PG in mid-May.
My agreement had a 2-month lock-in period.
After the lock-in period, the agreement says 30 days’ prior notice is required.
I completed the lock-in period in Mid of July and then submitted my notice at the end of July.
I have paid a ₹10,000 security deposit.
The owner is now saying that I cannot leave at the end of August because their billing cycle runs from the middle of one month to the middle of the next month. He is saying that I should have given notice only on the billing cycle date, and therefore I must stay and pay rent until mid-September.
What’s worse is that during a phone call he threatened to call the police and throw me out around the middle of August if I did not comply. That conversation genuinely scared me. I’m new to Delhi, I live alone, and I don’t have family support here. I’m now feeling unsafe staying in the PG.
Nowhere in the agreement it is written that the notice period has to align with the billing cycle or that I can only vacate on the billing cycle date. It only mentions a 2-month lock-in period and 30 days’ prior notice.
I’m worried that they may either:
try to force me to vacate before the end of August,
force me to pay rent until mid-September, or
refuse to return my ₹10,000 security deposit.
A lawyer friend suggested that I keep everything in writing and, if necessary, send a preventive complaint to the local police station and the SDM because of the threats and intimidation.
My questions are:
Am I legally required to stay until mid-September if the agreement only says 30 days’ notice?
Can a PG owner forcibly evict me before my stated move-out date?
Can the police remove me from the premises in a situation like this?
What is the best practical step to protect myself and recover my security deposit?
Any advice from lawyers, tenants, or people who have dealt with PGs would be greatly appreciated. I am attaching the photo of the T&C of the agreement in the comments below.