Maharashtra is set to notify new rules for housing societies that will require maintenance charges to be divided equally among all flat members irrespective of flat size, ending the long-standing practice of larger flat owners paying proportionately higher charges.
Under the new rules, service charges, employees’ salaries, watchman charges, office expenses and common expenses will all be apportioned equally among members. The equal-charge norm will apply to flats ranging from 500 sq ft to 1,500 sq ft. Lift charges will be exempt for members who do not use the lift. Water charges will be determined on the basis of the number of connections or actual consumption. Societies will retain the right to fix parking charges internally.
Other provisions include capping insurance, maintenance fund, education fund and sinking fund contributions equally across members. Non-resident members will be permitted to attend only the annual general meeting. The rules have been cleared in English; the Marathi-language process is underway. They will come into force after the Chief Minister’s signature and Governor’s approval, and will apply to over two lakh government-registered housing societies across Maharashtra.
The change is expected to reduce disputes in flat complexes where larger flat owners have long contested higher maintenance demands, while smaller flat owners argued that common facilities are used equally by all.
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