Homebuyers oppose hike in maintenance fee during lockdown

The Noida Extension Flat Owners Welfare Association (NEFOWA), representative of homebuyers in Greater Noida, have urged the developers not to hike maintenance charge in housing society during lockdown.

The association has written to the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India after few developers in the region hiked the maintenance charge.

Eros group, which runs a housing society by the name of Eros Sampoornam has issued notice of hiking maintenance charges from Rs 1.95 per sq. ft. to R 2.5 per square feet.

“We got to know that some other builders are also trying to increase the charges during lockdown. At this time, when most of us are indoors, this can be avoided. We will protest from balconies and if the increase in charges is not rolled back, we will protest on street, following social distance norms,” said Dipanker of NEFOWA.

Eros group, in a circular to the residents have said that “it has become essential for maintenance agency to increase the maintenance charges and the same has been revised with an addition to 8% compounded annually since 2017 on account of minimum entitlement as per maintenance agreement.

“The maintenance charges was never revised in last three years keeping in the interest of the residents and allowing them enough time to settle down in the society.

The circular stating revision in the maintenance charges at R 2.50 per sq. ft. + GST with effect from 01.04.2020 was shared with the residents in January 2020 and is not linked or associated with the lockdown,” said a Eros group spokesperson.