In Bengaluru, the legality of a proposed 15% rent increase during lease renewal has raised concerns among tenants. As highlighted in a recent Reddit discussion, there is no statutory cap on rent hikes, allowing landlords to adjust rents based on current market conditions. Legal experts indicate that rental agreements in the city are primarily governed by contract law, which grants landlords the freedom to set new rents once a lease expires. Typically, residential leases last for 11 months, where a 5-7% annual increase is common. However, since these agreements are treated as new contracts upon expiration, landlords can impose higher increases. In contrast, longer-term leases often include specific escalation clauses, providing more stability for tenants. Given the competitive rental market, tenants are advised to negotiate and stay informed about prevailing rates to make informed decisions.