I paid a Rs 9,000 advance to a landlord for a house, but now due to personal issues, I can’t move in. I let him know within a week, and we haven’t signed any agreement yet. He’s refusing to refund the money. Can I take legal action to get it back?

Yes, you can likely take legal action to recover the advance payment. Under Indian law, an advance payment without a signed agreement is generally refundable if you inform the landlord within a reasonable time that you cannot proceed with the tenancy. You can file a civil suit to recover the advance payment.