Bangalore: Many house and apartment owners are fast getting used to erratic timings of the tenants working in business process outsourcing companies and call centres, who work in erratic hours. Of course, the fact that they can afford high rents helps.

Many owners of older apartments in places ranging from Indiranagar and Cambridge Layout to Domlur and Koramangala, after moving to more luxurious homes in the newer suburbs, are still holding on to the flats they bought five to 10 years ago.

Real estate agents have convinced them that they are sitting on a gold mine; a three bedroom flat of around 16,000 sq ft carpet area can be leased for Rs 20,000 a month upwards depending on the location.

"Since most call centres arrange vehicles to transport their staff, the location and distance does not really matter, but many employees prefer a shorter trip back home after long hours at work," says a real estate agent in Indiranagar.

Four or six, sometimes eight, call centre employees pool in and rent a flat.

If they do not have a viable number, a marketing professional or even a medical intern may be added. Since the BPO employees are a regional-ethnic mix with varied food habits, a thriving business in "home cooked food-delivered at your door" has come to stay.

Many call centre managements are trying to dissuade staff from gorging on "fast food" because of medical leave considerations.

In many residential neighbourhoods, late night traffic, the BPO staff vehicles, initially caused consternation.

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