Your property-related legal queries answered by S.C. RAGHURAM, Partner, RANK Associates, a law firm

The maintenance rate of the flat I live in is charged by the committee on square-feet basis, and I am charged Rs. 2400 (Rs. 1200 * Rs. 2) per month.

It is difficult to find someone to pay Rs. YR12,400 (Rs. 10,000 + Rs. 2,400) as monthly rent in this area. Is this a common scenario across teh city where Rs. 2 (or more) is charged per square feet irrespective of the area’s actual rental value? Is there a better maintenance strategy?

Dhana

Chennai

The maintenance charges are broadly calculated on the basis of actual expenditure incurred to maintain the complex and the same is shared by all owners. If the committee has fixed the amount on this basis, there may not be much of a scope for downward revision of the same.