Maharashtra doesn't have a legal framework for mandatory federation registration. Maintenance charges depends on the agreement between the societies. Here are two approaches based on a voluntary agreement:
1. Proportionate to Carpet Area:
- This is a fair and widely accepted approach.
- The federation calculates the total carpet area of all buildings across the five societies.
- Each society contributes a share of the total maintenance cost proportional to the carpet area of its buildings.
- For example, if Society A has buildings with a total carpet area of 20% of the total, it would contribute 20% of the maintenance charges.
2. Flat Fee per Building:
- This is a simpler method but might be less fair, especially if societies have a significant difference in building sizes.
- Each society pays a flat fee, regardless of the number of buildings or total carpet area.
- This might disadvantage societies with fewer buildings or smaller footprints.
- Agreement Details: The specific basis for sharing maintenance charges should be clearly defined in a written agreement signed by all participating societies. This agreement should also outline:
- Frequency of contribution
- Dispute resolution mechanism
- Process for reviewing and adjusting the contribution amount
Benefits of a Clear Agreement:
- A clear agreement promotes transparency and avoids confusion or disputes regarding maintenance charges.
- It ensures fairness by considering the size and amenities utilized by each society.
Alternative to Federation:
- If forming a federation proves challenging, the societies could consider an informal collaboration.
- Each society could still contribute to a common maintenance fund based on a mutually agreed-upon method.