Income hit, Gurugram residents seek upkeep fee cut

GURUGRAM: Residents of some housing societies in Gurugram are demanding the reduction of maintenance charges citing financial instability and loss of jobs due to the pandemic.

They have also alleged that maintenance agencies have reduced their manpower, affecting the quality of their work, and so the upkeep fees should be brought down.

Yashesh Yadav, a resident of Vatika India Next in Sector 83, said people are already facing a lot of problems due to Covid-19, with many having lost their jobs. “It’s been seven months since the pandemic hit us and every sector has been badly affected. It has become very difficult for us to meet our expenses and also pay a high amount as maintenance charges. We have requested the maintenance agency to waive off at least 30% of the charges till the situation improves,” Yadav said.

Residents also alleged that the maintenance agency has failed to provide basic facilities despite taking the full amount and also sought a financial audit of the agency’s accounts. Lokesh Yadav, general secretary of K-Block RWA, Vatika India Next, said: “During the lockdown period, the maintenance agency reduced manpower significantly. This badly affected common services in the society, including cleanliness, waste disposal and security. Even after Unlock, only 50% of the maintenance staff is working.”

“In our block, there are over 600 flat owners who are paying between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 as monthly maintenance fees. We have been demanding a financial audit of maintenance agency’s accounts for the last three years, but they have failed to comply,” he added.

Meanwhile, the society’s maintenance agency, Enviro, said that they have adhered to all government norms to fight Covid and continue to safeguard the township against the infection without passing the additional cost incurred to the residents. “We performed quite well during and post the lockdown. We ensured that the security and maintenance staff were given onsite accommodation along with food and water to help prevent the spread of infection within the township. This helped in seamless operations during lockdown,” said AK Singh, CEO of Enviro.

“As a result, the expenditure increased substantially and we bore it without passing it onto the residents. These measures are still in effect and we shall continue to enforce them without looking at the cost incurred,” he added.

Residents of Indiabulls Centrum Park in Sector 103 also sought a reduction of the upkeep fee. “Since we are paying the full maintenance charges, we should get full services. But that is not the case here,” said Pradeep Rawat, president of Centrum Park RWA.

The society’s maintenance agency couldn’t be reached for a comment.