Who’s Responsible for ‘Leakage’ Repairs in societies

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By Legal Bureau

Introduction-Everyone is waiting for rainy season and now finally after a long wait the season of rainy is finally going to be arrived. But what is the first thought which comes into general public minds when we have our anticipation about the rains??? Hmmm… hold on… let me share you my intuition about it. It’s about leakage, flat’s walls getting wet during the monsoon and the list goes on. There is often a lot of dispute and complaints about it between the society and its members and the society and its committee do not respond to any of the complains of its members that who shall be really held responsible for it. And now here is the answer for it.

The answer of your each and every questions and dilemma is cited under section 160 of model bye-laws  which says that the following Repairs and Maintenance of the Society’s property shall be carried out by the society at its cost:

A)(i) All Internal Roads
(ii) Compound walls
(iii) External water pipes
(iv)Water pumps
(v) Water storage tanks
(vi) Drainage lines
(vii) Septic tanks
(viii) stair-cases
(ix) Terrace and parapet walls
(x) Roof of flats
(xi) Staircases lights
(xii) Street lights
(xiii) Outside walls of the building/buildings
(xiv) All leakages of water (xv) electric lines up to main switches in the flats and (xvi) lifts if any
(xvii) Roofs of the flat and ceiling and the plaster thereon on the top floor on account of the leakages of the rain water through the terrace.
 

(B) All these are exhaustive in nature and the repairs not covered by the underneath  Bye-law, shall be carried out by the members at their cost.     

Accordingly, if there is leakage on the external walls of your flat leading to leakage within, the onus of repairs falls squarely on the Society at its cost. Send the managing committee a legal notice for the same through a lawyer and follow up with the secretary of the society.  There is also a prominent judgment referring the above matter given by Bombay high court in the case of Humble Home Co-Op Housing Society Limited V/S Sham Balani And Another Decided On Wednesday, June 28, 2006 and its being ordered in the above matter that Terrace repairs is the responsibility of the society .The first issue has been answered by holding that the terrace which forms the roof of the disputant’s lat is the property of the society and therefore, in reply to issue No. 2, the society has been directed to pay an amount of  8.458/-

As per the old Bye-laws it was stipulated that internal leakage as well as external leakage of the premises was the responsibility of society. However, in the new Bye-Laws it is specifically mentioned that internal leakage will be the responsibility of the member.

If the resident above and/ or society is not co-operating to solve the internal leakage problem, you can complaint to local BMC ward office. BMC has the power to inspect and then issue a notice to the resident staying above, under section 381 of the BMC Act. If the member or the society still does not act, then there are several district court orders (Vile Parle district court order on Prashant Trivedi v/s Bansi CHS, as reported by DNA newspaper on 22/1/2011) also in such matters of internal flat leakage.

Other solutions for solving internal flat leakage problem:

  • File police complaint.
  • Mandatory injunction against him/her for carrying out the repairs to the seepage or file a civil suit for injunction and obtain stay order restraining that resident from using the area which is the cause for the seepage
  • For quick response file a petition u/s 133 crpc in the court of local 2nd Class Magistrate.
  • Criminal cases can also be filed against him/her with charges of criminal intimidation and verbal abuses/insult.

 

15 thoughts on “Who’s Responsible for ‘Leakage’ Repairs in societies

  1. There was an internal leakage problem faced by a neighbour below my flat. I spent a considerable amount breaking down the complete bathrooms, flooring and replacing all old pipes with new PVC pipes. Now after 8 months the leakage has resumed. The society wants to rip off my bathroom flooring once again and put me through a lot of inconvenience. Can I ask for reimbursement for the amount spent earlier from the member concerned/ housing society? Please advise.

  2. I am residing on 6th floor of the society at seven bungalows. During last 2-3 monsoons water has been seeping in my side wall through the cracks in Society sidewall (not terrace)There is one more flat with terrace on 7th floor.. All the paint and plaster has been ruined. I have complained to the society but no result. Finally I could not wait any longer and have got the repairs done .The Society says that I have to bear the expenses for these repairs. I dont understand the logic- when damage has been done to my flat due to bad maintenace by the society then Society should bear the expenses.
    Can you please guide me stipulating the Act, Rule, By-laws and Court judgements in this matter.

    Tks & regards

  3. As per bye laws 2014 -46,47, 48,158, 159 society is responsible for all type leakages 158 or 159 a/ b only categorises the scope of expenses to be Bourne. Otherwise both scope is under society.
    Law 47/ 48 also clearly explains whenever any resident never complaints about any leakage society committee has to address it and has to send notice to concerned member from whose flat leakage is there to attend it and appoint the contractor and if he doesn’t attend society shall attend it and encure the expenses from that member through maintenance.

  4. I have a leakage problem for the last 12 years from the open terrace above my fat privately owned by the owner. He has done underground dranaging on the terrace due to which leakage is incurred. I need an advice that who is responsible to repair the same n who will bare the cost.

  5. If Society General Body in meeting says any of the members facing leakage issue inside flat have to repair by their selves. Society is not responsible for outside repairing. Society is not doing outside repairing. What should be done in this case. Case of Mumbai. Kindly let me know.

  6. Society is registered or not but the members paying the maintenance to society. Then its responsibility to solve the all types of external problems of the society premises. And also the members have to cooperate to the society to solve the problems. Not to make any nuisance or any disturbance towards the chairpeesons. Because of ego

  7. Leakage in side my wall from outer wall of society. Since last 14 years. I stopped my repair instalment. Due to nuance in my flat.socety charge me interest .Is it my responsibility to pay interest. Leakage is not stopped in my flat inner wall from .Please advise

  8. Yes , There is Leakages from terrace to my office from 3 year, and my interiors and wall colours is full damage, my electronic components is damages ,imy damage losses is around 30kto 35k , i complaint society several times and not taking action to repair it , my society maintenance is clear up to march 2023. I can do police FIR against society.

  9. I am residing in a registered housing society flat on 3 rd floor. In my house water leakage from 4 th floor in kitchen , room and toilet. I have requested 4 th floor honor to get it repaired but he has not done any repairs. What do do and who will born the cost of repairing

  10. There is leakage from the bathroom of the top floor into my bed room down below, the house is given on rent, the owner not cooperating and preventing me even to check source of leakage, giving false assurance that she will get issue resolved by her plumber, no action take past one week

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