One of the most common points of confusion in rental agreements is who pays the maintenance charges, the tenant or the landlord. In cities like Bengaluru, where apartment society fees can be significant, understanding this division of responsibility helps avoid disputes and ensures smooth tenancy.
Who Typically Pays What?
1. Monthly Maintenance Charges (Paid by Tenant)
In most rental agreements, the tenant pays the monthly maintenance fee charged by the apartment association.
This fee usually covers:
- Common area cleaning
- Security services
- Lift maintenance
- Garbage collection
- Lighting of common areas
- Minor common repairs
Since these charges relate to day-to-day usage of the building and its amenities, the tenant is expected to bear them.
2. Annual or One-Time Maintenance Charges (Paid by Landlord)
Some societies collect larger, less frequent charges from owners. These are normally the landlord’s responsibility:
- Corpus fund
- Sinking fund
- Major structural repairs
- Building renovation
- Painting of common areas
- Upgrades to water/sewage systems
These expenses relate to ownership, not occupancy, which is why tenants are not required to pay them.
Repairs Inside the House– Who Pays?
Tenant’s Responsibility
Tenants generally pay for minor, routine wear-and-tear issues such as:
- Replacing bulbs, switches
- Small plumbing leaks
- Basic cleaning or pest control
- Fixing loose door handles or knobs
These are low-cost, usage-based repairs.
Landlord’s Responsibility
The landlord typically handles higher-value or structural repairs, such as:
- Electrical wiring issues
- Major plumbing failures
- Replacement of geyser, chimney, or other owner-provided appliances
- Structural cracks
- Roof or wall seepage
These are long-term maintenance concerns that fall under property ownership.
What If the Agreement Is Silent?
If the rental agreement does not clearly specify who pays what, the default assumption in India is:
- Tenant pays recurring monthly maintenance.
- The landlord pays major repairs and non-recurring society charges.
This makes a detailed agreement essential to avoid conflicts later.
Best Practices for Smooth Tenancy
- Discuss all maintenance responsibilities before signing the agreement.
- Keep digital records of payments and repair receipts.
- Inform the landlord immediately when a major repair is needed.
- Update the agreement annually if maintenance policies change.
