Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm I have applied for the sub-division and demolition of my property at the Corporation office in Chennai. As my property is linked to a private road, officials say that they do not have the authority to subdivide the property. I’d like to know whom to approach for this. If I gift the said area to...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm Our apartment association was registered recently. The project comprises a total of 32 units. Of these units, 20 have been occupied, a few have been sold but the owners haven’t moved in yet, and the remaining are unsold. I’d like to know the procedure regarding collecting maintenance charges. Do we collect it only from the...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. Raghuram, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm that deals in these matters There is a residential tower on the OMR, with nearly 800 apartments, for which booking commenced in 2007. Several customers who have booked apartments even from the year 2010 are still waiting to hear the dates of completion. The builders are not honouring their commitments to their customers. The agreements...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm In 2014, we purchased two plots (half a ground each) at Melandurai, near Arkonam. These documents have been registered at the sub-registrar office at Nemili and we have the documents as well. We also have the encumbrance certificate until 2015. But when we applied for a patta, we were told that there were certain discrepancies...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm I am 65-years-old and live with my aged mother. My younger brother passed away 15 years ago and my wife expired two years ago. My late brother’s wife left him two homes from the LIG Housing Board. One house was purchased by my brother via housing loan (closed after his death by his wife, who...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm My wife wishes to make a settlement of her apartment in our daughter’s name (US green card holder who has no property in India but has her own apartment in the States). I wish to make a settlement of my house in favour of our son who also owns a house in the US only....

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm I plan to buy a residential plot at Pallavaram. Many now say that buying land from individual owners is risky due to the prevalence of duplicate/double documentation. What steps can I follow to ensure I am not scammed? Rajesh. R Chennai It cannot be generalised this way. Please take your lawyer’s opinion as it is...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm In an apartment complex in Chennai, the per sq.ft. cost for a 1, 2 and 3BHK differs by nearly 40%. Despite being fully aware of the provisions of the laws, the Association has passed resolutions against the provisions of the TN Act. This issue has been taken up with the Association but the members continue...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm What are the current valuations for the following properties: about 400 sq. yards with old building at Tarnaka, which still has occupants. In Barkatpura about 330 sq.yards (Barkatpura bus depot lane) with old but very good condition building. Tarnaka area is developing at a fast pace and so are the prices shooting up. If the...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm My son has purchased an apartment in a gated community. I would like clarity on the following points: 1. Is it necessary to obtain patta for UDS? 2. Will an individual patta be issued or a group patta? 3. The builder is yet to sell a few more units. If a group patta has to...