Apartment Maintenance Charges Rules and Regulations
The real estate boom in India has played a crucial role in altering the property ownership pattern of this country. People are now leaning more towards shifting into apartments, especially the housing societies as they are becoming convenient and affordable. While staying in an apartment building has many facilities, you need to pay the maintenance charge to ensure everything runs smoothly. But, before you go ahead, you must be aware of the apartment maintenance charges rules and regulations to know your rights and how you need to deal with this.
What are Apartment Maintenance Charges?
Apartment maintenance charge is the fee collected by the residential society for the upkeep of the buildings and complex premises. It covers the maintenance, electricity, service charges, etc., to ensure the best living experience for the residents
Also Check: Society Maintenance Charges In India
What all are Covered in Apartment Maintenance Charges?
Here are some common components of the maintenance charges that you should know about –
1. Building maintenance
This includes all the repairing work and painting of the buildings.
2. Common area maintenance
This constitutes the maintenance of areas like corridors, elevators, playground, garden, etc.
3. Security and surveillance
Costs associated with CCTV, security personnel and other safety measures comes under this category.
4. Utilities
Paying the electric bill, municipality taxes and water comes under utility expenses.
5. Housekeeping
Payment for the housekeeping staff who takes care of the hygiene and cleanliness is an important part of maintenance charges.
6. Administrative expenses
The salary of building maintenance staff and office expenses comes under this category.
7. Contingency funds
A portion of the maintenance charge goes towards creating a contingency fund to take care of unexpected expenses.
Now, keeping a track of all these different categories of expenses and their payment can be a tough ask. Well, you can now bypass this hassle by opting for NoBrokerHood, a single window platform for all the requirements of a residential society. It takes care of security, communication, utility payment, record keeping and what not to ensure the residents have a great living experience.
Also Check: Society Maintenance Charges
Apartment Maintenance Charges Calculation
According to the laws for apartment maintenance charges, builders in our country can charge from Rs.2 to Rs.25 per square foot as maintenance charges. Now, these are directly proportional to the amenities you receive. So, if you pay a higher fee, you will get better facilities and vice versa.
Having said that, here are the three major calculation methods for housing society maintenance charges –
1. Equal sharing
In this method, the residents of the apartment pays an equal amount for maintenance irrespective of the size of their flat. As a result, the calculation is simple and straightforward, but may not be most equitable.
2. Per square foot
This is a more customised approach, where residents pay for maintenance charges as per the size of their flats. So, if you own a smaller flat, you will be liable to pay a smaller fee and vice versa.
3. Hybrid model
The hybrid model adopted by different societies strike a good balance between the previous two. Usually in these methods the fixed maintenance costs are divided equally and the variable ones are as per the square feet.
Also Check: Apartment Maintenance Charges Calculation
RERA Rules for Society Maintenance Charges
According to the RERA rules for society maintenance charges,the buyer of the property upon the transfer of ownership is required to pay the maintenance charges. However, if the owner of the said property decides to find a tenant, then the tenant will be responsible for paying the maintenance charges.
On the other hand, RERA rules for maintenance charges also state that, before the foundation of the Residents Welfare Association of the complex, the builder needs to take care of the maintenance charges.
RERA Guidelines on Maintenance Charges (Before Society or RWA Formation)
- Builders are responsible for maintenance until the society or RWA is formally formed.
- Maintenance charges must be clearly mentioned in the sale agreement, ensuring buyers are aware of the costs from the beginning.
- No hidden or ad-hoc maintenance charges are allowed under RERA.
- Any interest earned on maintenance funds belongs to the society, not the builder.
- At the time of handover, the entire maintenance fund balance must be transferred to the RWA.
RERA Rules for Maintenance Charges After Handover
- Once the society is formed and the handover is complete, the responsibility for maintenance shifts to the residents’ association.
- The Residents Welfare Association (RWA) manages maintenance activities.
- Maintenance charges must be approved in General Body Meetings (GBMs) by society members.
- Audited financial statements should be shared with all members to maintain transparency.
- Any increase in maintenance charges requires the consent of the members.
Apartment Maintenance Charges Rules and Regulations
- As per the RERA Act of 2016, residents are not supposed to pay any ad-hoc cost according to the builder’s discretion.
- The maintenance charges should be disclosed by the builder at the time of booking.
- State governments have maximum and minimum maintenance charges set for societies, and builders cannot ask for more than the amount prescribed by the respective state government.
- The maintenance charges are calculated based on the area of the apartment, so it will vary from one property to another.
- The frequency of the collection of maintenance charges depends on the builder.
- In case the maintenance charges exceed Rs.7500 per month, the resident has to pay a GST of 18% on apartment maintenance
- The builder must open a separate bank account for the purpose of collection and utilisation of maintenance charges.
- As per the RERA apartment rules and regulations, builders cannot transfer money from the maintenance account and cannot enjoy the interest earned on it. Also, it should not be a source of income for the builders.
- Moreover, the RERA rules for maintenance charges also state that during the handover of the maintenance account to the RWA, the builder must transfer the balance amount along with the account statement.
Tips to Reduce Apartment Maintenance Charges
- Negotiate Vendor Contracts: Actively bargain with service providers for security, housekeeping, and maintenance to get better bulk deals.
- Invest in Preventive Maintenance: Regular checks on plumbing, electrical systems, and equipment can prevent major, costly repairs later.
- Go Green: Implement energy-efficient solutions like LED lighting and solar panels for common areas to reduce utility bills.
- Embrace Technology: Utilize society management systems like NoBrokerHood to streamline operations, track expenses, and reduce the need for excessive staff.
- Promote Community Participation: Encourage residents to participate in cleanliness drives and maintenance tasks to save on external costs.
Also Check: How to Reduce Society Maintenance Cost?
City-Wise Apartment Maintenance Charges
City-wise Co-operative Housing Society or Apartment Maintenance Charges differ based on location, amenities, and local regulations. Metro cities generally have higher charges due to increased service costs. Knowing these variations helps members plan their monthly housing expenses wisely.
| City | Approx. Monthly Maintenance Charges | Notes |
| Mumbai | ₹4,000 – ₹15,000 | Highest charges; premium & sea-facing co-operative housing societies pay more |
| Delhi NCR | ₹2,500 – ₹10,000 | Township amenities influence costs |
| Bangalore | ₹2,000 – ₹8,000 | Higher for gated communities with modern facilities |
| Pune | ₹1,500 – ₹7,000 | Varies by location and amenities |
| Hyderabad | ₹1,500 – ₹6,000 | Affordable compared to other metros |
| Chennai | ₹1,500 – ₹6,500 | Charges vary across co-operative housing societies |
| Kolkata | ₹1,200 – ₹5,000 | Lower compared to major metros |
| Lucknow | ₹1,000 – ₹5,000 | Depends on society size and services |
| Ahmedabad | ₹1,200 – ₹6,000 | Moderate maintenance range |
Simplify Apartment Maintenance with NoBrokerHood
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| Manual Pain Point | NoBrokerHood Solution | Resident Benefit |
| Door-to-door collection | Online UPI payments + auto-reminders | Pay anytime, anywhere |
| Excel billing errors | Automated calculator (sq ft/equal/hybrid) | Accurate, GST-compliant bills |
| Lost payment receipts | Digital invoices + payment history | Instant proof anytime |
| Paper complaint books | Photo/video complaint tickets | Track status live |
| Vendor payment delays | Bulk vendor payments + tracking | Faster repairs |
| Audit nightmares | Ready financial reports | Zero paperwork stress |
All Solutions by NoBrokerHood:
Summary
To sum up, the apartment maintenance fee is important for the smooth functioning of the residential complex, which also ensures the quality of life for the residents. Therefore, being aware of RERA apartment maintenance charges rules and regulations is important for the residents and management committees to work together more effectively, ensuring a fair and transparent system that benefits everyone involved.
FAQs
Yes, GST is applicable at 18% if the monthly maintenance charge per flat exceeds ₹7,500 and the society’s annual turnover is above ₹20 lakh.
Charges are calculated using methods like per-square-foot, equal distribution, or a hybrid model combining both. These cover various common expenses.
It’s a fee collected from residents or tenants to cover the costs of maintaining shared spaces like lobbies, elevators, gardens, and security within a property.
GST is not applicable if your monthly charge is below ₹7,500 or if the society’s annual turnover is less than ₹20 lakh.
RERA mandates that builders transparently disclose maintenance charges in sale agreements. They must manage these funds separately and pay for unsold flats until the RWA takes over.
Co operative housing society maintenance charges are usually paid monthly, but some societies offer quarterly or annual payment options. Annual payments may also include small discounts for paying upfront.
Apartment maintenance charges are fees collected by housing societies to manage common facilities, services, and shared infrastructure, ensuring safety, cleanliness, and smooth day-to-day functioning of the residential complex.
RERA mandates transparent disclosure of maintenance charges, prohibits arbitrary fees, requires separate maintenance accounts, and holds builders responsible for maintenance until the society or RWA is legally formed.
After society formation, apartment maintenance charges are decided by the managing committee and approved by members during General Body Meetings as per society bylaws and applicable laws.
No. Maintenance charges can only be increased after proper justification, discussion, and approval from society members, following apartment maintenance rules and regulations.