We are tenants in a commercial building. The landlord collects our share of property tax and deposits it to the Calcutta Municipal Corporation. When we checked the CMC receipt, we found the bill was Rs 107 while the landlord was taking 197 from us. We brought this to the landlord’s notice. He accepted the mistake and said the amount would be adjusted with the rent. But he told us later that the extra money was being charged in anticipation of a hike in property tax. He said the annual value of the building is increased every six years and the money is charged with retrospective effect.

Should we pay the landlord Rs 107 or Rs 197' If he refuses to accept Rs 107, what is our option'

Raj Chawla, on email

It all depends on the understanding you have with the owner. The owner might be worried that it would be difficult to recover the tax with retrospective effect in case you leave the property. You may agree to give him an undertaking that you will pay your share of extra tax whenever it is charged even if you cease to be a tenant. In return, you may ask him to drop the higher rate that he is charging arbitrarily.

We have been living on the fourth floor of a four-storey building for 10 months. The agreement with the promoter mentions a lift, but it hasn’t been built so far. We have paid the full amount for the flat although the registration is not yet done. What should we do'

Siddharth Atmaramani, Dum Dum

This is a clear breach of contract by the promoter. You can move court or register a complaint to the state government under the Promoters’ Act.

Is reverse mortgage for senior citizens’ houses/flats available now' If so, please give me the names of the banks/institutions who offer this facility.

Debajyoti Guha, on email

You have to wait for some more time before reverse mortgage is introduced. There might be an announcement in this year’s central budget.

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