India, Sept. 8 -- The Delhi building collapse on Sunday has once again raised questions about structural safety, unauthorised construction and the condition of ageing residential buildings in the national capital. For people living in paying guest (PG) accommodation, the incident is also a reminder that checking rent, location and amenities may not be enough before moving into a property.

According to real estate consultants, tenants should also check whether the building itself is legally approved and structurally safe. Before signing an agreement, renters should conduct a basic PG safety audit covering both structural and legal red flags. This becomes particularly important in older buildings in Mumbai and Delhi, where unauthorised add...