Mumbai: The draft rules framed under the Cooperative Housing Society Act have proposed a uniform maintenance charge structure for all residents, regardless of the size of their apartments.
Ramesh Prabhu, founding chairman of the Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association (MahaSewa), said that while an earlier circular by the Maharashtra government had directed housing societies to levy equal maintenance charges, many continue to flout it by charging on a per square foot basis.
“In many cases, developers charge maintenance based on the area of the apartment—like Rs 10 per square foot—resulting in unequal charges for similar usage of shared spaces. This defeats the very idea of cooperative living,” said Prabhu.
He explained that maintenance fees are meant for the upkeep of shared amenities like lifts, utilities, housekeeping, and other common facilities. “Since the usage of common areas cannot be measured by the size of an individual flat, charging residents differently is inherently unfair,” he said.
Prabhu added that once the draft rules come into force, societies will be required to implement uniform maintenance charges retrospectively.
The draft rules are currently under review, with over 300 suggestions and objections received by the state government. These relate to the proposed Housing Chapter rules (Sections 154B to 154B-32), which lay down the framework for the registration and governance of housing cooperatives. The rules will be notified following approval from the state housing department.
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