Bengaluru LPG Cylinder Shortage: Landlord Evicts Tenants Over Using Firewood. Is It Even Legal?

The LPG shortage has begun spilling into uncharted territory in Bengaluru, with a landlord reportedly asking a family to vacate his property after they turned to a traditional wood-fired stove when they were unable to procure a gas cylinder. The episode underscores how badly a global supply crunch is beginning to affect daily urban life in unexpected and deeply personal ways.

According to a report in News18 Kannada, the tenants, who lived in north Bengaluru’s Ashwath Nagar under the Byatarayanapura area, had been waiting for an LPG cylinder for several days but were unable to secure one amid a supply disruption linked to global fluctuations in oil and gas prices during the ongoing West Asia conflict.

Why The Tenant Family Turned to Firewood?

Their existing LPG cylinder had run out, and

despite booking a refill, it did not arrive on time. With no other option, the family resorted to using a traditional firewood stove outside their home to cook meals.

This reportedly angered the landlord, who objected that the smoke from the stove would damage the paint and leave soot marks on the walls and ceiling. However, the tenants continued to use the stove, citing a lack of alternatives.

An argument reportedly ensued, following which the landlord asked the family to vacate the premises. He claims he did not evict them overnight, but that they chose to leave the same night.

A member of the tenant family reportedly suffers from kidney and liver problems. “We couldn’t get a gas cylinder, so we cooked with the stove. We did this because we had no other option. Now the owner has made us vacate the house,” the tenant said.

The homeowner told News18 Kannada that he had returned the tenants their security deposit. “I told them not to cook with the stove, but they continued to do so, and I asked them to vacate. The tenants did not keep the house clean… If others start using stoves, it could cause accidents. There are 20 houses here. If everyone does this, it will be a problem,” he said.

What The Law Says On Such Landlord-Tenant Disputes

• Landlords are generally required to provide prior notice before asking tenants to vacate, as per rental agreements and applicable state laws.
• Immediate eviction is typically permitted only under specific conditions, such as serious violations or safety risks.
• Tenants can challenge eviction if due process is not followed, often through local rent authorities or courts.

While the specifics of the rental agreement in this particular case are not publicly known, tenancy laws generally do not allow landlords to evict tenants without due notice or procedure, except under clearly defined conditions.

At the same time, landlords can raise objections if a tenant’s actions are seen as causing damage to property or posing safety risks.

The incident at hand falls in a legal grey area, where concerns over property maintenance and safety intersect with a tenant’s immediate need to manage a basic household requirement during a supply disruption.

The episode has also triggered reactions online, with several users questioning whether concerns over property maintenance should outweigh a family’s need to cook food during a crisis, while others pointed to safety risks and the rights of property owners.

LPG Cylinder Shortage Panic in Bengaluru

Such tensions are not uncommon in urban rental markets, particularly during periods of disruption. This incident comes amid heightened concern over LPG availability in Bengaluru.

Panic enquiries for domestic LPG cylinders have risen at several gas agencies in recent days, with many consumers opting for advance bookings fearing potential supply disruptions linked to the widening West Asia conflict. However, dealers have said that stocks remain adequate for now.