Pune Accommodation

What are the top factors to keep in mind when searching for a place to live in your city?
When searching for a place to live, some important factors to consider are safety, location preference and individual needs. One of the major factors is the driving distance from home to work and the proximity to your children's school. Houses on main roads tend to be noisy (and dusty) throughout the day and sometimes even during the nights. Diligence needs to be exercised in making sure that the proposed housing is sufficient in terms of electricity and water supply and phone connections. Make sure there are facilities for groceries, vegetables, meats and medicines close by.
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What are the most popular neighborhoods in your city for expats?
Most of the expatriates prefer to stay in the following areas in Pune:

  • Koregaon Park
  • Kalyani Nagar
  • Boat Club Road
  • Bund Garden
  • Aundh (National Society/Sindh Society)
  • Baner
  • Wakad
  • Viman Nagar
  • Kharadi
  • Magarpatta City
  • Amanora

These areas are most expensive in terms of rent. They cater to all the needs of the expatriates such as shopping, entertainment, restaurants, schooling, etc. The Koregaon Park, Kalyani Nagar and Bund Garden areas are closer to the airport. One can find more spacious bungalows in the Aundh area.
For visits to the city, Pune offers several luxury 5-star hotels ranging from US$150 to US$395

  • JW Marriott - Senapati Bapat Road
  • Grand Sheraton - Bund Garden Road
  • Conrad by Hilton - Mangaldas Road
  • Hyatt Regency - Viman Nagar
  • Hyatt Hotel - Kalyani Nagar
  • Westin - Koregaon park
  • Novotel - Viman Nagar
  • Vivanta by Blue Diamond - Koregaon Park
  • Double Tree by Hilton - Chinchwad
  • The O Hotel - Koregaon Park
  • Radisson Blu Hotel - Kharadi

Pune also offers service apartments. These may be a better alternative for short-term stays of a few weeks or months, for the diet-conscious and business travelers. The service apartments in Pune range from US$80 to US$110.

  • Season’s Service Apartment - Aundh 
  • Marriott Suites - Koregaon Park
  • Oakwood Residence - Mangaldas Road
  • Hyatt Residences - Viman Nagar
  • Four Points by Sheraton - Viman Nagar

There are 10 other hotels with 3- to 4-star ratings and 20 budget hotels. For long-term stays, there are a fair number of spacious, newly-constructed homes ranging from 2 – 4 bedrooms. In Pune, expats can find single-family homes, row houses and apartment houses.
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Do expats tend to buy or rent their homes?
Typically, most expatriates prefer to rent their homes. Monthly rents range from US$1,400 to US$4,000. The rental values for the apartments are much lesser as compared to single-family houses.
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Typically, will I be required to pay additional money up front (such as a deposit) before moving into leased housing? If so, how much is common?
Ordinarily, the security deposit (an interest-free amount paid upfront at the time of the commencement of the lease) is equivalent to 10 months' rent. For an additional cost, landlords are often willing to provide furnishings. The property taxes are generally paid by the house owner.
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Are utilities generally included in the price of rent, or are they extra?
The rent does not include electricity, telephone and society charges (towards maintenance of common areas of the complex), if applicable.
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Are there special security concerns I should be aware of in regards to my home or choice of neighborhood?
For the most part, Pune is a safe city, especially considering the number of people that call it home. However, as with most cities, some areas are more desirable than others. This is usually evident in the cost of the accommodation. Before deciding where to live, make sure that the house or apartment has door and window protection and a reliable alarm system. Change all locks on doors and replace with new ones. It is also prudent to always lock your house and car when you are not there.

It is recommended that you check local police reports before deciding on an area to live. These reports provide factual information on types of crimes and how often they occur. This will most likely be a determining factor on whether you choose to live in a certain neighborhood or not. One should be watchful that there are no drains around the house, as they can create a problem with mosquitoes.
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I’m not sure if I should bring my appliances. What is the electric current, Hz and plug shape in your city?
The electric current for India is 230 volts. The electrical Hertz (Hz) is 50 hertz of power. Wall sockets are of the three-round-pin variety. UK, US and Australian plugs require adaptors, while continental
European round-pin plugs fit the sockets. Two-pin plugs also work fine. Power adaptors are available from electrical shops.
Below are examples of the types of plugs that are used in India.
Type C plug - Round pin attachment plug
Type C plugType C plug
NOTE: Type C plugs can also be used with E and F and some L receptacles. This type of plug is very common in most universal adaptor sets.
(Though the diagram shows a circular plug, quite often Type C plugs have a rectangular shape, as in the photo above.)

Type D plug - Round pins with ground
Type D plug


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Do you have any other accommodation information that might help me?
The process of searching for suitable accommodation could take some time and is sometimes frustrating. Ideally, the process should be started a few weeks before the start of the assignment. A preview trip arranged through Crown is highly recommended. It is a common practice that owners clean, paint and repair after the deal is finalized. If you opt to take a long-term lease (two to four years), you can request what you wish to be worked on. However, this practice often results in delays in moving into the house.

It also might be a good idea to try and negotiate with the owner to provide as many appliances (particularly air conditioners) as possible within the premises.

There are a few things one must do before taking possession of the premises. Thorough cleaning is a must. It would also be advisable to have the entire premises treated by a pest control company before moving in. All electrical points and appliances should be checked for functionality. Water pressure should be checked, too. Gas is supplied in cylinders or bottles through a neighborhood dealer; it is advisable that you keep one extra cylinder on hand as backup.
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
Crown Relocations has made every effort to present accurate information. However, regulations, rates and other variables are subject to change and Crown Relocations cannot accept responsibility for the errors that might result. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact your local Crown representative.