DLF Delays Plan to Increase Maintenance Fee

DLF has deferred its plan to charge a hiked maintenance fee by three months, with the change likely to be implemented only from April. This decision was taken on Tuesday after RWA representatives told the developer that they would pay more only if they are satisfied and convinced that DLF can meet their expectations. A group of residents from different RWAs would meet the DLF officials next week and submit their demands pertaining to maintenance works in the residential colonies.

It is expected that the revised maintenance fee would be raised from Re 1 per sq yard to around Rs 2.70. Sources said residents’ committees would present a budgeted cost of amenities required in their areas so that the developer can take steps to improve them. Those who attended the meting said that DLF will have to provide desired quality services in the next two months and based on its performance, the RWAs would take a call on the revision of maintenance charges. Participants in the meeting registered their dissatisfaction over the present security and maintenance and suggested that residents should spell out the benchmarks for maintenance in their respective areas.

“We have asked the developer to prove that they are capable of providing quality services and only then we would allow the prices to be hiked,” said one of the participants. R P Singh, a representative from DLF-III RWA said they are ready to pay more, provided the developer ensures good quality services for residents. Sudhir Kapoor, general secretary of DLF City RWA added, “The next meeting will have the representatives with some more concerns of their respective colonies. The maintenance process in the DLF colonies need to be transparent so that residents feel satisfied about the revised fee that they are paying. At present, the maintenance is not satisfactory.”

On their part, the DLF officials reportedly told the RWA representatives that they need to hike the maintenance fee since the cost of everything has increased and even the labour wage, which was Rs 2,300 in 2004, has now increased to Rs 4,400. Parimal Bardhan, president of DLF-I RWA said, “We have told the developer that maintenance and security services are not up to the mark and need a lot of improvement. There has been an agreement that DLF would now join hands with the RWAs and provide quality services.”

Another RWA representative, J C Kapoor, said the developer has admitted that the services are not up to the mark. “We are going to discuss this issue in the next meeting. A committee has been formed by DLF and I, being a member of this committee, will raise the issues of our colony,” he added.