Many of the gated communities have been collecting maintenance charges for the apartment owners. Normally the charges are fixed based on the apartment area. For e=g if my flat is 2000 sq.ft, then @ about Rs 4 per sq ft they collect Rs 8000/ month.
Actually maintenance charges are to be collected for the excpenses incurred for security. sweepers /scavangers/ other labour to maintian the common area neat and clean. How it was fixed based on the flat area, which is maintained by owners themselves by paying electrivity charges/water charges/maid etc, ??/.
Is it legall permitted to collect charges based on flat area? . I also have flat in a community where there are only 10 flats, wherein the community is asked to pay the actual common area power charges/sweeper charges etc. In a 2000 Sq.ft area flat here maintenace charges varies from Rs 500 to RS 800 per month. Where as in gated community they do not furnish the monthyl charges/expenses incurred but no one know how it was fixed?.
Can any lawyer give me advise legal position in this regard and if required what is the procedure to stop charging maintenance surges without proper basis. It looks like some handful of people may be misusing the funds too.
