Home ownership drops to 23.08% in Hyderabad

Rental economy deepens in Hyderabad as ownership falls to lowest in Telangana 

Over time, rising land values and property prices have outpaced income growth, making home ownership less accessible for middle-income groups

hema singuluri I hyderabad

Hyderabad has the lowest home ownership in Telangana, with only 23.08% of households in the GHMC limits owning homes, while a far larger share depends on rentals, highlighting a clear shift toward a rent-driven urban housing market, according to the Telangana Government’s SEEEPC Survey.

The data marks a significant turning point in understanding the city’s housing structure, quantifying what was earlier seen as a general trend: Hyderabad is increasingly becoming a rental-centric city, driven by rapid urbanization, migration, and IT-led employment growth. 

According to Srinivas, assistant City Planner of GHMC Town Planning Wing, high rental demand is concentrated in key residential and IT-linked zones such as Serilingampalli, Kukatpally, Rajendra Nagar, ECIL, and Hitech City. These areas, he noted, continue to attract software professionals due to proximity to employment hubs and better connectivity. 

He explained that migration into the western corridor, especially around HITEC City and surrounding business districts, has significantly increased rental dependence. Over time, rising land values and property prices have outpaced income growth, making home ownership less accessible for middle-income groups. 

While Hyderabad still offers relatively moderate property prices compared to other major metros, affordability pressure is growing due to the income–property price gap. 

Bachelor tenants rise as IT corridor fuels rental demand This macro trend is reflected in the lived experiences of young professionals. 

Kushal and Sailesh Gandhavarapu, both 26-year-old software employees earning around Rs 40,000 per month, live together in Manikonda. They say Hyderabad remains one of the most practical cities for working bachelors. However, they acknowledge that renting is currently the only practical option. 

“Property prices in and around the IT corridor are far beyond what we can afford despite stable incomes. With so many multinational companies setting up and expanding here, a lot of people like us keep moving based on job opportunities, projects, or better roles,” they said. 

Sailesh added that rents have steadily increased in HITEC City and Gachibowli, forcing them to share accommodation. While Kushal noted that long-term EMIs, rising living costs, and job uncertainty make ownership difficult at this stage. 

For them, renting is not just about affordability but also flexibility, allowing mobility between jobs and projects in a rapidly evolving city.