Leaking terrace: Society to pay flat owner Rs 3 lakh

Here’s good news for flat owners on top floors plagued by the indifference of their housing societies to leaking terraces. An Andheri (E) housing society was recently ordered to pay Rs3.35 lakh to one of its members, Suresh Kumar, whose top-floor flat had been badly damaged due to the seepage.

Here’s good news for flat owners on top floors plagued by the indifference of their housing societies to leaking terraces. An Andheri (E) housing society was recently ordered to pay Rs3.35 lakh to one of its members, Suresh Kumar, whose top-floor flat had been badly damaged due to the seepage.

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The Mumbai Suburban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has decided that the money will go towards repairing Kumar’s flat and plugging the leakage on the terrace of Shreeji Kripa co-operative housing society. Kumar will get Rs 10,000 of the amount as compensation for mental agony caused due to the leaky terrace.

Kumar, according to the complaint filed with the forum, had written many letters to the managing committee of the housing society about the damage to the walls and ceiling of his flat. In July 2006, the society had passed a resolution to get the terrace repaired. When nothing was done even three years later, Kumar moved the consumer forum in March 2009. He demanded Rs 3.35 lakh, as quoted by his architect for the repairs to the terrace and his flat. He also demanded Rs 5 lakh for mental agony.

The society has the option of getting the repair work done itself, but will have to complete it within two months from the date of the order and to the satisfaction of a certified engineer or an architect.