Gurgaon sealing drive displaces tenants from unauthorised PGs
On June 19, Sanghamitra Pati, a 25-year-old marketing manager, was visiting her parents in Odisha when enforcement teams arrived at the building where she lived in Gurgaon’s DLF Phase 3 to seal it. Her friends had to break the lock on her apartment to retrieve her clothes and documents before the premises were sealed.
Pati is among several young professionals and families hit by a sealing drive across residential areas in DLF Phases I to V that targets unauthorised commercial accommodations. The Gurgaon District Town Planner (Enforcement) team pasted notices outside alleged illegal paying guest (PG) accommodations and guesthouses, and also slipped copies into tenants' rooms. The drive aims to enforce the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) building norms, which prohibit commercial use of residential properties.
Residents and tenant advocates say the sealing has caused sudden displacement, with many given little to no time to vacate. Property dealers estimate that thousands of tenants in DLF sectors rely on such unauthorised PGs due to the high demand for affordable rentals near office hubs. Legal experts advise tenants to verify property approvals before renting.
Officials maintain that the action is necessary to prevent misuse of residential zones and ensure compliance with zoning regulations. They have promised prior notice in future drives. However, affected tenants argue that the enforcement lacks a humane approach, leaving them scrambling for housing.
