Yuvraj Dua Compares Mumbai House Hunting in Andheri and Bandra to UPSC and JEE
Content creator Yuvraj Dua highlighted the severe challenges faced by prospective tenants searching for rental housing in Mumbai, including key localities such as Andheri, Bandra, and Goregaon, in a video shared on Instagram. Drawing a comparison with some of India's most demanding competitive tests, Dua described finding a flat in the city as "life's toughest exam" and termed it a deeply exhausting experience for house hunters.
In the video, Dua stated that he had taken competitive exams like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), but declared that finding accommodation in Mumbai surpassed both in difficulty. He described the search as "the most mind-damaging activity" that tests almost every personal quality of a prospective tenant, including patience, determination, willpower, resilience, and the capacity to compromise on expectations.
Dua explained that individuals who remain unwilling to lower their housing expectations quickly reach a breaking point. He remarked that within three or four days of searching, house hunters might find themselves pulling their hair out and reconsidering their long-term career goals or life plans, jokingly suggesting that returning to work at a family shop in one's hometown begins to seem like a viable alternative.
Addressing neighbourhood rental dynamics, Dua noted that while Goregaon remained comparatively manageable, securing an affordable home in heavily sought-after areas such as Andheri and Bandra was extremely difficult. Commenting on the high rent demands relative to basic amenities, he remarked that landlords demand ₹17,000 even for makeshift spaces with minimal setups. He further pointed out the dilemma between location and cost, explaining that tenants who possess the necessary budget often fail to find a good location, while those who find a suitable location frequently lack the budget to afford it.
Dua also discussed the social and lifestyle restrictions imposed by property owners, describing rules against unmarried tenants as the "final boss" of Mumbai's rental hunt. He mocked the lengthy list of conditions set by landlords, referencing demands for bachelors, non-drinkers, non-smokers, and vegetarians before concluding his clip with a plea for people to show kindness to anyone currently navigating the city's housing market.
The clip prompted wide engagement on social media, with numerous users validating the creator's observations. One user remarked that despite taking the NEET exam, house hunting in Mumbai proved to be tougher, while another user drew comparisons with Bengaluru, writing that searching for a house there reveals a similar struggle. Other commenters echoed the sentiment, sharing that they were currently enduring the same house-hunting process.
