Bengaluru apartment dwellers struggle with surging maintenance charges, with water and security costs skyrocketing Premium

Bengaluru, once known for not just its pleasant weather but also affordable living costs, has seen a sharp change on both counts over the decades. From skyrocketing real estate prices to inflated everyday expenses, residents are feeling the pinch. One of the growing concerns contributing to financial strain in the recent past is escalating apartment maintenance charges.

Bengaluru, once known for not just its pleasant weather but also affordable living costs, has seen a sharp change on both counts over the decades. From skyrocketing real estate prices to inflated everyday expenses, residents are feeling the pinch. One of the growing concerns contributing to financial strain in the recent past is escalating apartment maintenance charges.

With the city’s rapid urbanisation and an influx of residents, gated communities and apartment complexes are becoming the norm. The cost of maintaining these properties, covering everything from security to upkeep of common areas, has surged, with rising costs of water, power and security being important factors.

The resident of an upmarket apartment in Jalahalli, a retired professional who preferred to remain anonymous, said that maintenance charges have been steadily increasing over the last two years. “We currently pay ₹6,273 as maintenance charge every month. Until a few months ago, it was ₹5,967, which again was a lot. Since the shortage of water supply this summer, we have seen an increase in demand for water tankers, forcing the apartment’s association to increase maintenance charges very frequently,” said the resident. 

Similarly, in an apartment in J.P. Nagar 4th phase, charges for water have increased by 50% said a resident. “We have lived here for more than 10 years, and our apartment’s maintenance charge has always been nominal. But since March this year, there has been an increase in the water charges that are included in the monthly maintenance charges by at least 50%,“ said the resident. “Water expenses were anywhere between ₹400-450 every month for each resident, but post summer, it has gone up to ₹800-1,000 every month,” she added.   

At an apartment complex in Turahalli, that houses close to 1,120 houses, residents say that lack of foresight by builders has led to a shortage of water, which has added to already high maintenance charges, “Our apartment is less than five years old, and we are heavily dependent on water tankers due to overuse of ground water. When the apartment was built, 7-8 borewells were dug, and ground water has depleted just within two years. As occupancy kept increasing, the ground water level also went down. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems are a mere formality by the builders, catchment areas are not planned well, water overflows or does not go directly into the catchment area, residents must invest time and money to have better RWH systems,” a resident said.

As a result, the apartment complex has been heavily dependent on water tankers for close to a year. Agencies supply water tankers only on long-term deals, they ask for commitment for months, as they fear that after good rains their businesses will go down. “Whether we consume the same amount of water tankers or not, each day, we are charged the same. The monthly maintenance charges at our apartment used to be around ₹6,000, since summer it has gone up to ₹8,000-₹9,000 per household depending on the square feet of the apartment. In which ₹2,000 is spent by each household every month for water,” he added.  

Many resident dwellers also say that maintenance charges have increased as security agencies have begun to charge more.