I have a flat in Kalikapur on EM Bypass which I want to rent out. But I am being advised not to let out the flat as tenants may not vacate it later. I want to know if it is risky to rent out the flat as I do not live in Calcutta and how much rent I can expect. Also advise me on how to look for prospective tenants.

B.R. Roy, Indore

You can rent out the flat through a leave and licence agreement, whereby a landlord hands over a property for only 11 months and the person moving in apartment does not get tenant status.

It is difficult to predict the rent as it will depend on market dynamics. You can advertise with leading newspapers to find tenants.

I had read in Propertt dated March 3, 2006, and May 26, 2006, that monthly maintenance of a flat is decided on the basis of the super built-up area. In our building, there are two-bedroom and three-bedroom flats. While the owners of the two-bedroom flats are in favour of the sq ft formula, the others are saying the maintenance charge should be equal for everyone. How do we resolve this?

H.K. De, Bhubaneswar

Established practice demands that maintenance charge is decided on the super built-up area. The bigger the area, the higher the charge. So the owners of three-bedroom flats have to pay more.

I bought a flat in August 2004 and the sale deed clearly mentioned that I would pay all corporation taxes from the date of purchase. In February 2005, the CMC assessed the annual valuation of the flat with effect from the second quarter of 2002-03 and gave a bill to me for tax arrears from the second quarter of 2002-03 to the fourth quarter of 2005-06.

The person from whom I bought the flat is refusing to pay his share that falls between the second quarter of 2002-03 to the first quarter of 2004-05. He has asked me to realise the amount from the promoter. What should I do?

Amitava Ghose, Calcutta

Since the agreement is between you and the erstwhile owner, the onus of paying up lies with him. You don't have to approach the promoter. If the previous owner does not agree to pay, you can file a suit or move a consumer court.

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