In a significant move providing substantial financial relief to prospective homeowners, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has decided to waive three years of backdated maintenance charges for new buyers purchasing vacant flats in its older housing schemes. This decision directly addresses a long-standing grievance among buyers.
Board Approval and Formal Orders Issued
The LDA Board has formally approved this major policy revision, and the necessary official orders have already been issued to implement the change. This swift action underscores the authority's intent to resolve the contentious issue that was creating a hurdle in the sale of its unsold inventory.
Previously, the authority's practice was to recover maintenance fees for the previous three years from buyers at the time of property registry or taking possession. This charge was calculated from the date of the first registry after the construction of the building was completed, regardless of whether the specific flat had remained vacant and unsold during that entire period.
Buyers' Objections and Financial Burden
Homebuyers had consistently raised strong objections to this levy. They argued that it was unfair to be asked to pay for a period during which they neither owned nor occupied the property. This additional financial demand, typically ranging between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000 per flat, was significantly diluting the benefit of discounts offered under LDA's ongoing first-come-first-served sale scheme for these properties.
Many allottees expressed that the sudden demand for arrears at the final stages of the purchase process was making the entire scheme considerably less attractive and was an unexpected burden on their finances.
Expected Impact and Official Statement
Confirming the policy revision, LDA officials clarified that the waiver will apply exclusively to new buyers of old and vacant flats. The officials stated that the move effectively removes an unnecessary financial burden from homebuyers and is expected to encourage a quicker disposal of the authority's unsold housing stock.
This decision is seen as a proactive step to make LDA's housing schemes more buyer-friendly and market-oriented. By eliminating the retroactive charge, the authority aims to boost buyer confidence and streamline the purchase process, potentially revitalizing interest in its older housing projects.
