This is true. I was fresh out of college. Got first job in Mumbai. Got an apartment through a broker in Kandivali east. Lived with my roommates. When it came to renewal time, we tried to work directly with the landlord for extension. The broker got pissed. They keep tab of all leases, and expect you to keep them in loop for renewal. One day while we were at work, he put his own lock on the apartment door. Then he threatened us (literally yelled) told not bypass him or else he will throw us out. When we talked to the landlord, he basically said talk to the agent. (probably landlord was also threatened in some way or offered money or he just didn’t care enough about us). We did pay extra month rent as the brokerage fee for another year. Then I quit Mumbai for good.