What is PG? Why Paying GuestAccommodation is the Best Option
PG, which is short for paying guest accommodation, is a great option ifyou’re looking for a more aff ordable place to stay than renting an entireapartment. In this blog, you can learn all about PG stays.
PG, which is short for paying guest accommodation, is a great option ifyou’re looking for a more aff ordable place to stay than renting an entireapartment. In this blog, you can learn all about PG stays.
Table of Contents
- What is PG?
- PG accommodation – an affordable option
- How is PG different from renting an apartment?
- Why opt for a PG Accommodation over a Flat
- Facilities that a PG stay offers
- Benefits of living in a PG accommodation
- PG Rules and Regulations to Follow
- Hostel vs PG: which is better?
- Wrapping Up: PG or Paying Guests
With the boom of business outsourcing, more and more singles are relocatingto metro cities, leaving behind their deep-rooted families in small towns. If theirnew job is temporary, many prefer paying guest accommodation over renting ahouse as it is aff ordable and practical. Before checking out what diff erentiatesPG from other living options, let’s check out what it actually stands for and whyit is coined as one of the best aff ordable living options out there.
What is PG?
Well, PG refers to when a person stays in someone else’s house / property and pays rent for the accommodation and facilities available with it, such as electricity, water, housekeeping, and sometimes food. The concept of PG is generally famous in areas closer to business centres or educational institutes because working professionals and students prefer these locations to reduce their travel time and save some money.
In India, you may find PG accommodation in various configurations. The PG accommodation could be single or shared. In the latter case, two or sometimes more people usually share a single room. Typically, a PG consists of a foodmess in which meals, such as breakfast, lunch and dinner, are served. PG collects rent monthly, in advance, at the beginning of the month.
To avoid managing everything from food to furniture, laundry, to grocery shopping on their own, people choose PG rooms. PG charges depend on the available facilities. One can decide whether they want a private, single, double or triple sharing room and whether the PG stay includes food and housekeepingfacilities, whetbher itbs bunk beds, or separate beds.
Some landlords run the PG business full-time, utilizing their entire bungalow,while others convert their two or three vacant rooms into PG rooms to earn extra income. The PG owner employs a few people to run daily errands, such as fetching groceries and vegetables, cooking, driving, etc.
PG accommodation – an affordable option
With many migrating to metro cities for better work and educational opportunities, rental properties are much higher. The expenses follow, including furnishing the apartment, maintaining the property, hiring domestic help, paying utility bills and the rent, etc. As the cost of living is higher in metro cities, this will cost you about half of your monthly salary. If you are a student, be prepared to spend all your pocket money. Therefore, PG accommodation is an affordable alternative to a regular rented apartment.
How is PG different from renting an apartment?
There are two types of residential accommodation that people usually opt for: PG stays, and the other is flats. Let’s know the diff erence between a flat and a PG.
Why opt for a PG Accommodation over a Flat
Here, we present separate yet distinctive reasons for opting for PGaccommodations over a Flat or Apartment.
| Flat / Apartment | PG Accommodation |
| Renting the entire flat is costlier | The guest gets only a portion of the house and so his costs are shared, it works out to be more economical than a flat. |
| The tenant has to take care of the food and other things like housekeeping, electricity, etc. | The owner of the PG will take care of the food and also provide you with all the basic amenities, such as electricity, fridge, microwave, etc. (depending on the type of PG). |
| Families generally prefer flats as they require significant space and maintain their privacy. | PG is preferred by students or working professionals as it provides a food facility accompanied by other services like cleaning, etc. |
| Flats do not offer much safety and security. | PG is the best option as it is safe. You also have access to first aid kits and doctors in an emergency. |
| Every household work has to be done by the tenant himself. | You do not have to waste your time onhousehold chores; the owner himself takescare of everything. |
| You must pay your bills, like water bills, maintenance, etc, on your own. | In most PGs, you don’t have to worry about the bills; they’re included in the rent. |
Facilities that a PG stay offers
Infrastructure: A paying guest is normally provided with a furnished room and the washroom facility, attached or otherwise. Most PGs offer a bed, a geyser, an almirah, a table and a chair in the room. However, some also provide televisions and stereo systems in a common hall or sometimes in the room. A few large PGs also offer vehicle parking.
Food: Most PG stays offer food with a pre-decided menu and fixed meal times. In some cases, a separate kitchen, a stove and gas connection, adequate cooking utensils, and a fridge are provided.
Laundry: Sometimes, a separate washing machine and iron are provided for each room, and in most cases, there is a washing machine for common use. However, many guests do not have time to wash their clothes and prefer to use the services of the local washer women (Dhobi) or the domestic help employe to clean their rooms by paying a minimal fee.
Benefits of living in a PG accommodation
Safe and secure environment :
Indian parents are known for their extra possessiveness for their children. If the child is a girl, their anxieties reach another level. They always want to make sure their child is safe and secure. The atmosphere in PG provides a level of satisfaction to the parents as it is well equipped with CCTV cameras, watchmen and security guards. Some PGs even ensure the person living with them follows proper guidelines to ensure safety. The PG also has access to doctors and first aid kits in an emergency.
Proximity advantage :
Generally, PG are situated close to universities and commercial hubs to reduce the travel time of the working population and students. The PGs in such places have easy access to public transport, markets, malls, library, hospitals, medical stores, restaurants, and malls.
Social interactions :
Living away from home is not easy for some people. Home sickness and loneliness surround them. However, if one stays in paying guest accommodation, they can make friends and have a social life other than their family. The people in PG usually share their rooms with others which are good friends.
Freedom :
Most PG stays do not follow strict curfew rules, so you won’t have to compromise your freedom. You can even stay for a night at your friend’s place. All you have to do is enter the register and mention the checkout and check-in time.
PG Rules and Regulations to Follow
Most landlords expect paying guests (PG) to follow some basic rules andregulations. The most common list of rules include :
- No smoking or drinking is allowed on the property.
- Residents must keep their rooms clean, dispose of garbage properly, and not damage anything.
- Curfew and visitor policies may be in effect at some PGs.
- Be aware of payment schedules, late fee policies, and refund procedures.
- Follow the code of conduct, which includes guidelines on noise levels, the use of common facilities, and respecting the privacy of fellow residents.
- Provide accurate information to avoid cancellation.
- Turn off electrical appliances before leaving the room.
- Guests are responsible for any damages to the property or furniture.
- Bullying, Harassment and ragging are strictly forbidden in PG accommodations.
Hostel vs PG: which is better?
A hostel is meant chiefly for students and is dedicated to community living. It has common washrooms and lacks even the most basic amenities, such as WIFI, housekeeping, ACs, coolers, etc. Living in a hostel is affordable compared to PG, but sometimes there may be extra hidden costs. With proper securityguards on duty throughout the night and day, hostels provide a safe and secure environment; on the other hand, PG stay is primarily secure, but in rare cases, it’s not. PG accommodation offers a certain level of freedom, which the students residing in hostels might not get as they need the permission of a parent or local guardian.
If you have a single room in a PG, you might get excellent privacy, while hostels are noisy 24/7, so forget about spending some quality time with yourself. PG maintain a clean and hygienic environment, and in this time , this is crucial, but hostels compromise on cleanliness. Washrooms are common and dirty. Food in a hostel mess is worse, whereas PGs usually provide simple but tasty meals.
Wrapping Up: PG or Paying Guests
Compared to rented apartments and flats, paying guest accommodation is the most comfortable and affordable because of the above mentioned factors. Now that you know more about PG, you can contact a local property dealer to learn more about the nearby PG rooms.