If you live in a gated community or apartment complex, your monthly maintenance bill may soon become noticeably higher. Across parts of Delhi-NCR, many housing societies are reviewing their maintenance charges after a recent increase in minimum wages for workers such as security guards, gardeners, cleaners, electricians and plumbers.
According to a Times of India report, several residential communities have either already increased maintenance charges or are preparing residents for higher monthly bills in the coming months.
The biggest reason behind the increase is the higher wage bill that societies now have to bear following the latest labour code revisions.
Housing societies depend on a large workforce to manage daily operations, including security, housekeeping, landscaping, electrical maintenance and plumbing services. With minimum wages rising, the cost of running these services has also increased significantly.
Many resident welfare associations (RWAs) and apartment owners’ associations (AOAs) say they have little choice but to pass some of the additional cost on to residents.
In some cases, maintenance charges are expected to rise by around 25% to 30%, potentially adding as much as Rs 3,000 a month to household expenses.
The wage increase is not the only challenge facing housing societies.
According to the report, many communities are also dealing with higher diesel costs, which have increased the expense of running backup power generators during electricity outages.
At the same time, inflation and rising operational expenses are putting additional pressure on society budgets.
As a result, management committees are exploring various ways to reduce costs, including switching to LED lighting, promoting energy-efficient practices and investing in solar power systems for common areas.
Not every housing society is immediately passing on the entire cost increase to residents.
The report says several apartment associations are trying to absorb part of the additional expense by cutting electricity consumption and improving operational efficiency.
Some communities are also evaluating renewable energy solutions such as rooftop solar systems to lower long-term electricity costs. However, officials acknowledge that such measures may not fully offset the higher labour expenses.
The increase in maintenance charges could have another financial consequence for residents.
Under GST rules, housing societies do not charge GST if monthly maintenance charges are up to Rs 7,500 per flat.
However, if maintenance charges exceed this limit, residents may face additional GST on top of the revised maintenance amount. For households already paying maintenance fees close to the threshold, even a relatively small increase could result in a bigger jump in their monthly outgo.
The proposed hikes have triggered objections in some housing societies.
Residents in several communities have questioned how the revised charges are being calculated and whether all components of the increase are directly linked to higher wages and operating costs, the report mentioned.
Many residents say they want greater transparency from management committees regarding maintenance budgets and spending decisions.
Meanwhile, experts and resident association representatives quoted in the report believe maintenance costs could continue to face upward pressure in the coming months.
Apart from higher wages and fuel prices, concerns over rising electricity tariffs and other operating expenses may further impact society budgets.
For residents, that means monthly maintenance bills could become an increasingly important part of household budgeting as housing communities adjust to a changing cost environment.