NoBroker and its dark patterns
I started using NoBroker to find an apartment for rent in Bangalore and subscribed to their premium plan, which connects you with a Relationship Manager (RM) and helps you get in touch with owners.
I shortlisted a property and contacted the RM to book a visit. The RM informed me that if I like the property and decide to proceed, I would have to pay ₹19,000 to NoBroker (for a rent of ₹45,000), as this property is categorized as a “premium property.”
Essentially, they are charging brokerage under a different name.
My issues:
- This was not communicated when I purchased the premium plan.
- While the platform is advertised as “no brokerage,” you are effectively charging brokerage upfront (plan price + ₹19,000), which is almost equal to one month’s rent.
- I am already spending a lot of time endlessly scrolling to find the right property. If I have to pay brokerage anyway, why shouldn’t I just go with a local broker? What additional value does your platform provide then?
Your thoughts?
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No-broker is now just another normal broker. As a house owner, if i post the property, unless you buy their premium plan, your property will never get rented thru nobroker.
You cannot delete the posting. you can only " deactivate" it. after 15 contacts, unless you pay premium your property will not no linger appear in search. It is far for easier to rent a house by posting a "to let" board in front of the house.
People who want to rent a property, just decide on the locality based on google maps, walk thru that area, street by street, you can find your house. Want to live in an apartment, just pick the building complex, every complex has a notice board where you can find the advt, the watchman will give you the number, ask your coworkers who live in that apartment complex, they can get you the phone number from the notice board, worst case that phone number will be that of a broker who controls renting in that building.
Stop paying brokerage to these RE brokers, offline or online.
Same, feel frustrated (NB’s spammy calls) as well as duped for using their poor UI. They jack up the rent prices as well for these “Premium” options by 50% then try to convince you that you can still negotiate ~ optical/fake discount.
@Itsmeagain How would they enforce this- can’t you get the agreement made using another name/person? Im assuming that the only way for them would be to gatekeep Owner’s details till the rent+ deposit is paid.
I once listed a property there looking for a flatmate. Since that was the only option, its not my property i was leaving and needed a replacement for security and setup cost.
They called me, i made them understand my situation, they said 🙂↕️ yes.
Then, I did get some response, but i eventually unlisted.
To this day they keep emailing me, messaging me, to list the property again. I have emailed them, that I don't want any thing to do with no broker anymore. Don't send emails or message. They acknowledge and do the same thing again.
I didn't list my property but I got apartment through no broker 1 year back , been a year still they call me sir are u looking for a flat? Dude I rented apartment through u...how do u not know that? Spammed me more than credit card companies. I know ur issue is different but it just tells a lot about company
You should directly contact the owners and have visit planned. I followed the same path.
Nobroker is a new scammer, don't fall into that trap, use facebook groups, take Friends help or search street by street you will find something
they are worse than a broker tbh. I have posted a property to rent out and They will purposely not show it in search results, they are literally trying to force me to purchase their premium plan .
True. Take a broker itself instead. Their packers and movers are also with hidden charges. And very unprofessional as well. Upon raising it, they did not help much. The packers were found on my gate randomly on a day while I was on my way to office to collect carton boxes for which they had charged me additional Rs.1000. I felt unsafe as a girl. What if they did something to me on my way?
I was also made to pay the same Rs.15000 for “premium” property which was not told to me before. They charge both landlords and tenants with these scams.
I have done multiple shiftings in the past in multiple cities, this was the worst till date.
Best part? They asked me to “porter” boxes myself if needed 🙂
Shitty company
I listed my property 5 years back where tentant lived there for sometime and vacate the flat. So after that i never listed my property again l, as I was about to live in my property which i am living from last 3 year, still they call every few months, sir in your area rent amount is good, do you want to give your property on rent, even after telling them so many times that i am already living there by my own.