Rentomojo Private Limited reported high demand for refrigerator rentals across Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad in 2026, as households increasingly opt for subscription models to mitigate the financial risks of appliance ownership. The trend is driven by two primary factors: rising out-of-warranty repair costs for ageing units and a growing need for secondary refrigerators in shared flats. This shift allows consumers to convert unpredictable maintenance expenses into fixed monthly operating costs.

The demand is concentrated in specific high-churn rental neighbourhoods where flatmate dynamics and seasonal usage patterns overlap. In Delhi, interest is highest in Dwarka, Saket, and Lajpat Nagar; in Chennai, OMR, Adyar, and Porur; in Bangalore, Whitefield, HSR Layout, and Marathahalli; and in Hyderabad, HITEC City, Kondapur, and Kukatpally. These areas feature mixed-diet households requiring additional 190-litre units for short-term leases, as well as families upgrading primary appliances while avoiding the compounding costs of owning a second unit.

Ownership vs. Rental Economics

The financial calculus behind this shift highlights significant disparities between purchase and rental models. A single-door 190-litre fridge lists at ₹15,000 to ₹22,000, while a double-door 250-litre model ranges from ₹25,000 to ₹35,000 on major e-commerce platforms in July 2026. Beyond the initial outlay, owners face out-of-warranty compressor and thermostat repairs costing ₹2,500 to ₹6,000 per instance, plus annual servicing fees of ₹800 to ₹1,500. Resale value for a five-year-old unit rarely exceeds ₹4,000, meaning the effective net cost of ownership often surpasses the purchase price when depreciation and relocation costs are included.

Rentomojo’s plans start at ₹524 per month for a single-door 190-litre unit and ₹379 for a mini fridge, with double-door variants available on separate plans. For a flatmate needing a second fridge for nine months, purchasing incurs a net outlay of over ₹19,000 with minimal recovery upon exit. In contrast, renting costs ₹4,716 over the same period, including free servicing and retrieval. This represents a cost difference of nearly four times, making rental the more predictable line item for tenure-bound renters.

Service Structure and Market Position

Rentomojo’s subscription model includes delivery within a 2.54-day network average, professional installation, and free repairs, annual servicing, and relocation. Minimum tenure begins at three months and extends to 36 months, with advance-payment plans offering up to 15% discount. Users can terminate fridge subscriptions independently of other services, catering to summer-only use cases where households rent second units for four months before returning them. Security deposits typically equal one month’s rent, payable via monthly card, UPI, or net-banking.

According to its draft red herring prospectus filed in March 2026, Rentomojo is India’s largest tech-driven full-stack direct-to-consumer rental platform by FY25 subscription revenue and live subscribers. The company operates across 22 cities with 227,511 live subscribers and an in-house team of 1,688 technicians, carpenters, and painters. Furniture rentals on the platform start at ₹79 per month, reinforcing its position as a comprehensive asset-light lifestyle provider.

Rentomojo Private Limited has launched monthly rental plans for centre tables and chairs starting at ₹86 across Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai, addressing the logistical friction faced by shared flat tenants. The offering allows renters to access small furniture without the upfront capital outlay of ₹8,000 to ₹18,000 typically required for purchase, converting ownership burdens into a manageable subscription line that ends with the lease. This shift is particularly relevant for professionals in high-churn neighbourhoods where floating tenures make long-term furniture ownership impractical.

The rental model targets specific high-density rental corridors where shared tenancies dominate, including Hinjewadi, Kharadi, and Wakad in Pune; HITEC City, Gachibowli, and Madhapur in Hyderabad; and OMR, Velachery, and Anna Nagar in Chennai. In these areas, two to four professionals often share a 2BHK unit, leading to frequent rotation of occupants. The company notes that owning small items like chairs or centre tables creates disproportionate logistical burdens regarding transport, storage, and resale, with used items often fetching less than 10% of their purchase price or refusing outright by resale channels.

Rentomojo’s catalogue lists various chair and table options with transparent pricing structures. Standard chairs and stools start at ₹86 per month, while ergonomic office chairs begin at ₹136 per month. Specific variants include the Hugo Office Chair at ₹283 per month and the Alex Mesh Chair at ₹381 per month. Centre tables, available in wooden and metal-frame designs, also start at ₹86 per month. These rates are based on the company’s Bangalore catalogue and apply across the three metros.

Subscription plans offer flexibility with minimum tenures of three months extending up to 36 months. The service includes professional assembly, free repairs, annual maintenance, and free relocation within the network. Delivery averages 2.54 days across the network. Customers can opt for advance-payment plans to receive up to 15% off the total cost. Payments can be made via card, UPI, or net-banking, with a refundable deposit required at the start of the plan that is returned upon conclusion. Individual items can be ended independently of the wider subscription, allowing flexibility when flatmates exit.

What the Numbers Show

The economic advantage of renting small furniture becomes evident when comparing effective net costs. While an accent chair costs between ₹4,000 and ₹18,000 to purchase, and a centre table ranges from ₹5,000 to ₹15,000, the hidden costs of ownership include transport, reassembly, and repair. For shared households, renting these items as part of a bundle—alongside sofas and desks—consolidates logistics into a single delivery and retrieval visit. This bundling strategy mitigates the disposal problem associated with low-value items, making the ₹200-to-₹350 monthly rental line a practical benchmark compared to the cumulative hassle and financial loss of purchasing and reselling small furniture over multiple moves.