Choosing a hostel isn't just about the room. It's about the twenty small systems that determine what happens if something goes wrong at 2 a.m. Here are the eight questions that get past the sales pitch.

**1. Who answers the phone at midnight?** Every legitimate PG has a night-warden with a direct line. Ask for that number BEFORE you sign. If they hesitate, walk away.

**2. Where are the CCTV cameras — and who has access to the footage?** Cameras at the gate, corridor and reception are standard. Cameras inside rooms are not. Ask to see the DVR room.

**3. What is the visitor policy in numbers?** Not 'we're strict about visitors' — actual numbers. 'Visitors sign in at reception, up to 2 at a time, only in the common area, only 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.'

**4. Fire safety?** A single working extinguisher on each floor + a clear exit route. Ask to see it. Most students never do.

**5. Water quality?** An RO purifier at every drinking-water point. Ask when the filter was last changed — a good warden knows.

**6. Warden background verification?** Yes, staff should be background-verified. Ask to see the register.

**7. Emergency contacts for parents?** The PG should proactively share a WhatsApp group or email list with parents at signup.

**8. Insurance?** The building itself should be insured. Your belongings usually aren't — a small home-contents policy is ₹800/year and worth every rupee.

The best hostels welcome these questions. The ones that don't are telling you something.