Apartment, collecting money without any bills and threatening

608 votes

If the apartment association is unregistered, it cannot collect arbitrary amounts without maintaining proper accounts. You are entitled to ask for audited accounts, bills, resolutions and details of expenditure. Common expenses approved by the residents may be recoverable, but the collection should be transparent and reasonable. If you are being threatened or intimidated for refusing to pay the CCTV amount, preserve all messages, recordings and other evidence and immediately lodge a police complaint. You may also issue a legal notice seeking disclosure of accounts and challenge any illegal demand before the appropriate civil authority or court. Do not stop paying legitimate maintenance without legal advice.

Advocate Hemalatha Narayanan LawRato

563 votes

You have legal remedies against the office bearers/association if they are collecting maintenance without maintaining proper accounts or issuing receipts, and are making arbitrary demands without approval or transparency. Even if the apartment association is unregistered, they cannot intimidate residents or extort money. If they are threatening to cause you harm, immediately lodge a written complaint with the jurisdictional Police Station and retain copies of any messages, audio recordings, CCTV footage, or witness details as evidence. You may also file a complaint before the Registrar of Co-operative Societies/RERA or the competent authority (if applicable in your State) regarding the illegal collection of funds and non-maintenance of accounts. If they continue demanding ₹5,000 for CCTV without a valid resolution or proper approval, you can challenge such demand and seek appropriate relief before the Civil Court. Do not make any payment unless they provide a lawful basis, audited accounts, and supporting resolutions. If the threats persist, you may also seek protection and initiate criminal proceedings against the persons responsible.

Advocate Sunil Raju S LawRato