Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm I own a flat in Chennai on the third floor of a building comprising 12 apartments. The association is collecting higher maintenance charges from the rented apartments as compared to the owner-occupied flats. Is this legal? The TN Act does not provide for differential maintenance charges between vacant and occupied flats. P. Santhanakrishnan Chennai As...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm My husband registered for an apartment in a project nearing completion in January 2014. The builder promised delivery in May 2014. When the property documents were verified by provident fund authorities for a fund sanction, we got to know that there were deviations in the project. The builder, however, assured it was a minor issue...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C.Raghuram, Partner, RANK Associates, a law firm that deals in these matters My son-in-law’s father made a settlement deed between himself, his elder brother and his father in 1972. My son-in-law is not aware of the property and its income. Now, his father is critically ill. If anything happens suddenly, what are the legal steps to be taken by my son-in-law in order to...

Your queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, Chennai. My mother-in-law is 69 and has three sons. She is a widow, and her other two sons are abroad. She stays with us and the house belongs to her and her three sons. She wants to give her jewellery and her share in the house to my daughter and son. She says this to me repeatedly but the problem is...

Sour property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm I intend to sell my bungalow in Chennai. It has two portions (ground and first floor), and each portion has a separate kitchen and access areas. Can I get the benefit of investing part of the sale proceeds in two installments in tax saving bonds by two separate sale deeds in two consecutive financial years?...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm In 1995, my wife and I purchased two plots at Kakkan Nagar, West Velachery (sold by Tamilnadu Slum Clearance Board). In 2006, they were registered at the sub-registrar’s office in Velachery. On approaching the Tahsildar office, Taramani, for obtaining a patta, they asked us to obtain a no-objection certificate from TNSCB. Officials at TNSCB say...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm I own a flat in Chrompet in a building that has four apartment units. All three parking spaces there have registered owners. Currently no owners occupy the houses and all the three parking are lying vacant. The owners do not permit parking in these spots. Am I eligible to park my car in the space?...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm I signed a construction agreement with a builder in December 2011. I paid for 2,443 sq.ft. as saleable area for a 3 bedroom flat. As per the agreement, the common area was 452 sq.ft., amenities area was 112 sq.ft. , wall area 216 sq.ft., and floor area 1663 sq.ft. The flat overdue by 22 months...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm I m a senior citizen who had booked a flat in Kelambakkam on 23.3.2013 and the builder ensured the project would would be completed in 18 months. I have paid almost 90% of the cost. Even after 40 months, the project is not ready and the builder has not responded to mails. I approached CREDAI’s...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm I am a widow with two married daughters. My husband (in whose name there are residential plots) died without making a will. I am now facing issues with the transfer ofkhata. I have the following documents: death certificate, an up to-date encumbrance certificate, paid tax receipt. Will the transferred khatabe a joint one or will...