Choosing the wrong PG costs you months of frustration and thousands in wasted deposits. A how to choose PG India checklist approach saves you from gut-feel decisions that go wrong by the second week. Most students visit 2-3 PGs, ask about rent, glance at the room, and pay. Then they discover the water runs dry at 8 AM, the WiFi drops every evening, and the deposit refund clause was never written down.
This guide gives you a 25-point checklist organized across seven categories. Use it during every PG visit. Print it, screenshot it, or bookmark it -- and fill it out before you hand over a single rupee. If you're also comparing hostels against PGs, read the hostel vs PG comparison guide first.
Category 1: Location (5 Points)
Location determines your daily commute, safety after dark, and access to food and essentials. Don't compromise on these:
1. Distance from College/Office
Measure actual commute time, not straight-line distance. A PG 3 km away with no direct bus takes longer than one 5 km away on a metro line. Use Google Maps at your actual commute time (8:30 AM, not midnight) to get realistic estimates.
2. Public Transport Access
Walk from the PG to the nearest bus stop, metro station, or auto stand. Count the minutes. If it's more than 10 minutes on foot, your daily commute adds 40+ minutes of walking alone. PGs near Delhi metro stations or Mumbai local train lines save thousands in auto fares monthly.
3. Nearby Essentials
Is there a medical store within 500 meters? A grocery shop? An ATM? A photocopy shop? These sound minor until you need paracetamol at 11 PM or a printout before a 9 AM exam.
4. Neighborhood Safety After Dark
Visit the area after 8 PM. Are streets well-lit? Are other people walking around? Is there CCTV on the street? Women students should pay special attention here. Our girls hostel safety checklist covers what to verify in detail.
5. Noise Levels
Is the PG on a main road with truck traffic? Next to a temple, mosque, or market with early morning activity? Noise at 6 AM is a different problem from noise at 6 PM. Visit at both times if possible.
Category 2: Room Quality (5 Points)
The room is where you sleep, study, and spend 8-12 hours daily. Check every detail.
6. Ventilation and Natural Light
Open the window. Does air actually flow? Is there cross-ventilation or just one wall window? Rooms without proper airflow trap heat and moisture -- a serious problem during summer and monsoon months.
7. Electrical Sockets and Condition
Count the working sockets. You need at least 3 per person: phone, laptop, and one extra (lamp, fan, charger). Check if the wiring looks safe -- exposed wires or loose switchboards are fire hazards. A good extension board helps, but doesn't fix dangerous wiring.
8. Storage Space
Is there a dedicated cupboard or wardrobe per resident? Can it lock? Where will you keep your suitcase during the year? Shared storage with no lock is a problem waiting to happen.
9. Bed and Mattress
Sit on the bed. Lie down. Is the mattress thinner than 3 inches? Are the springs poking through? A bad mattress causes back pain within weeks. Ask if you can bring your own mattress if the existing one is poor.
10. Wall and Ceiling Condition
Look for damp patches, peeling paint, cracks, and mold spots. These indicate water seepage -- a permanent problem the owner won't fix mid-lease. Check corners and the area behind the cupboard.
Turn on every tap. Ask about water supply hours. Then ask a current resident the same question.
Category 3: Bathroom (3 Points)
Bathroom quality drops fastest in PGs. Check these before everything else.
11. Water Supply Schedule
Ask: "What are the water timing hours?" Write down the answer. Then ask a current resident the same question separately. If the answers differ, trust the resident. In cities like Jaipur, tanker-dependent areas have erratic water supply during summer.
12. Geyser and Hot Water
Does the bathroom have a working geyser? Is it individual or shared? Shared geysers mean cold water if you're the fourth person to shower. In Bangalore and Pune, mornings are cold 6 months of the year -- hot water is not optional.
13. Cleanliness and Maintenance
Check the toilet, drain, mirror, and tiles. If the bathroom is dirty during your visit (when they're trying to impress you), it will be worse once you move in. Ask how often cleaning happens and who does it.
Category 4: Food (3 Points)
14. Meal Inclusions
What exactly is included? Breakfast and dinner? Lunch? Weekend meals? Get the specific menu for one week. "Home-cooked food" means nothing without a menu sample.
15. Meal Timing and Flexibility
What time is dinner served? What happens if you arrive late? Is there a cutoff? Students with evening classes or lab sessions miss fixed 8 PM dinner windows regularly. Ask if food is kept aside or if you simply miss it. The hostel food survival guide covers how to manage around rigid mess timings.
16. Kitchen Access
Can you boil water? Make Maggi? Use a kettle? Some PGs ban all cooking appliances. Others allow a kettle but not an induction plate. Clarify this upfront -- it affects your daily food budget significantly.
Category 5: Safety and Security (4 Points)
17. Entry/Exit Rules
Is there a curfew? What time? Is it enforced? What happens if you're locked out? Some PGs lock gates at 10 PM sharp -- a real problem during exam preparation or group study sessions. Ask current residents, not just the owner.
18. CCTV Presence
Check if CCTV cameras cover the entrance, corridors, and parking area. Cameras in common areas are a safety positive. Cameras near bedrooms or bathrooms are a red flag. Our hostel safety guide explains what CCTV coverage to expect.
19. Visitor Policy
Can friends visit? Can parents stay overnight? Are there separate visiting hours? Overly restrictive visitor policies become a daily annoyance. Overly lax policies create security concerns. Find the balance.
20. Fire Safety
Look for a fire extinguisher on each floor. Check if there's a second exit besides the main door. Ask about smoke detectors. Most budget PGs in India skip fire safety entirely. If the building has a single narrow staircase and no fire equipment, think hard before signing.
Category 6: Agreement and Documentation (3 Points)
21. Written Agreement
Demand a written rental agreement. It should state: monthly rent, deposit amount, deposit refund timeline, notice period, meal inclusions, and house rules. Verbal promises mean nothing in a dispute. If the owner resists a written agreement, that's a red flag.
22. Deposit Terms
How much is the deposit? One month or two? When is it refunded -- at checkout or 30-60 days later? What deductions are allowed? Get this in writing. Read our PG deposit refund rights guide before signing anything.
23. Notice Period
Most PGs require 30 days' notice. Some require 60 days or forfeit the deposit. This matters when your internship ends early or you need to shift hostels suddenly. Clarify the exact terms before paying.
Category 7: Hidden Costs (2 Points)
24. Electricity Charges
Is electricity included or separate? If separate, how is it calculated? Per-unit meter or flat monthly charge? AC rooms in cities like Hyderabad and Delhi can add ₹1,500-₹3,000/month in electricity during summer. Ask for last month's electricity bill as proof.
25. Maintenance and Other Fees
Some PGs charge separately for WiFi, laundry, room cleaning, or parking. Ask for a complete list of monthly charges beyond rent. Add everything up and compare the total against other PGs -- not just the headline rent number.
Red Flags -- Walk Away If You See These
- No written agreement offered. The owner says "we trust each other." You shouldn't.
- Current residents look unhappy. If they avoid eye contact or give vague answers when you ask about the PG, something is wrong.
- Deposit is non-refundable. No legitimate reason exists for a non-refundable deposit in a PG.
- Owner avoids showing bathrooms or kitchen. If they steer you only toward the room, the hidden areas are in poor condition.
- No other residents of your gender. A PG advertising as co-ed with only male or only female residents currently is not what it claims.
- Room doesn't match photos online. If the listing showed a different room, ask why. If the answer is vague, leave.
Printable Checklist Summary
Use this condensed version during PG visits:
| # | Check | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commute time to college (actual, not Google estimate at midnight) | ☐ |
| 2 | Walking distance to bus/metro/auto | ☐ |
| 3 | Medical store, grocery, ATM within 500m | ☐ |
| 4 | Street lighting and safety after 8 PM | ☐ |
| 5 | Noise levels (morning and evening) | ☐ |
| 6 | Room ventilation and natural light | ☐ |
| 7 | Electrical sockets (min 3/person, safe wiring) | ☐ |
| 8 | Lockable storage per person | ☐ |
| 9 | Mattress quality (3+ inches, no springs poking) | ☐ |
| 10 | Walls -- no damp, mold, or peeling paint | ☐ |
| 11 | Water supply hours (ask a resident, not owner) | ☐ |
| 12 | Working geyser (individual preferred) | ☐ |
| 13 | Bathroom cleanliness | ☐ |
| 14 | Meal menu for one week | ☐ |
| 15 | Late dinner policy | ☐ |
| 16 | Kitchen/kettle access | ☐ |
| 17 | Curfew timing and lockout policy | ☐ |
| 18 | CCTV in common areas | ☐ |
| 19 | Visitor policy | ☐ |
| 20 | Fire extinguisher and second exit | ☐ |
| 21 | Written agreement with all terms | ☐ |
| 22 | Deposit amount and refund terms in writing | ☐ |
| 23 | Notice period (30 or 60 days) | ☐ |
| 24 | Electricity billing method | ☐ |
| 25 | All extra charges listed (WiFi, laundry, cleaning) | ☐ |
Key Takeaways
- Use a structured PG selection criteria checklist instead of gut feel. It prevents costly mistakes.
- Always visit the PG at two different times: once during the day and once after 8 PM.
- Ask current residents about water, food, and rules separately from the owner. Their answers are more reliable.
- Get every financial term in writing: rent, deposit, refund timeline, notice period, electricity charges.
- Add all costs together before comparing PGs. A ₹6,000 PG with ₹2,000 in extras costs more than a ₹7,500 all-inclusive one.
- Walk away from any PG that refuses a written agreement or offers a non-refundable deposit.
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