Apartment maintenance fee - is pay more for same facilities fair?
Greetings,
Our Apartment Complex Society is registered under KSRA, 1960
The society has a total of 160 flats of which 112 flats are below 1200 Sqft (Ranging from 1055 to 1195) and 42 flats above 1200 sqft (ranging from [deleted])
While the facilities availalbe for use at the apartment are common for all the 160 flats, the apartment society is currently charging a flat maintenace fee of Rs 2 per Sqft. It further proposes to increase this fee to Rs 2.50 for two reasons.
1. About 30 owners who own the house but do not regularly stay are not paying for the maintenance thereby a shortfall of funds is created.
2. The association plans to replace certain assets which are common for all and hence need funds.
Increasing the costs arbitarily by the assocation is increasing the cost burden on the larger sized flats and we have to shell out more money for the same facilites that is used by all residents.
The association is not being reasonable to include the cost calculation for security, housekeeping, common area electirity, lifts, generator and amenities as Equally distrubted and to be shared by all.
It can charge a development fee at Per Sqft rates for building maintenance like painting where surface area of the flat would come into play.
When this issue is raised, the association is asking for a internal society poll to be conducted which asks for per sqft charging or equally distribution charging. Few members have also rationalized in the past with statements like those who earn more pay more, BBMP also charges more based on area of house though the roads and facilities provided are same to all.
Naturally the 70% below 1200 sqft sized flats would want per sqft charges as their burden reduces and the above 1200 sqft flats have to pay more. This difference higher flats pay averages to Rs 1000 more for same services availed.
Please let know:
- Is conducting a poll, where you are already known to be minority flats in numbers fair and imposing higher charges on them correct?
- Is is correct to add the charges of non-paying flat owners to be included in per sqft charges and add to all flats where again larger size flats have to contribute more for someone not paying?
- Shouldn't any asset being purchased for the common use of the society like - new water pumps or gym equipment etc be shared equally by all residents?
- Are arguments on how other societies pay or the govt charges valid and shouldn't the association take approach that is fair to all members of its society and treat all owners the same?
Thanking You,
Asked 8 years ago in Property Law
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