Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm My son (settled in Bengaluru) let out his duplex house on the first floor of our premises for rent (₹21,000 per month), advising the tenant to credit the rent to his SB account. He recently advised me that the tenant has not paid rent for the past 16 months and the total outstanding amount is...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm In an apartment complex, with different square feet area, should the monthly maintenance charges be collected on a square feet basis or a fixed amount, irrespective if it is a 2BHK/3BHK? K. Narayanan Chennai As already discussed several times in this column, the Tamil Nadu Apartment Ownership Act prescribes that the common maintenance charges have...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm I have an apartment in the name of our mother (she passed away 10 years ago). I have three brothers and my father is also no more. We are all senior citizens and do not have any documents to prove we are her legal heirs. We only have her death certificate. Please let us know...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm I’m residing at MKB Nagar, Vyasarpadi. My 28-year-old residential complex has 102 flats out of which only two owners have registered for UDS. The remaining owners have registered only for plinth area. The Association is planning to demolish the structure and build new flats. When a new flat is built, will there be any benefit...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm 1. I have a house in Chennai that has been registered jointly in the name of my wife and myself. We have taken a bank loan in the name of my son. My wife expired and I now want to make a settlement deed for my son. Do I require a legal heir certificate for...

Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a Chennai-based law firm I have the following legal queries regarding roads within gated communities. What are the laws governing gated communities? Are they allowed to construct a compound wall? - Are roads in a gated community registered as a gift deed in favour of the local body? - Who is empowered to maintain the road, provide street lights,...