Maintenance charges are applicable according to the area of a flat under the Maharashtra Apartment Ownership Act but not to one registered under the Act.
The state department of cooperations recent order related to a Society in south Pune had caused confusion among cooperative housing societies with members seeking a clarification from the department.
Under the Apartment Act, one has to pay maintenance as per the Percentage of ownership in proportion to the common areas and pay as per square feet. In cooperative housing societies, the land and building are owned by the society, not by individuals, and most of the maintenance charges are divided equally, irrespective of the area. These charges include sinking fund, repairs and maintenance fund as per cost. It is as per the model bye-laws of cooperative housing societies.