I have bought the entire top floor of a two-storeyed building. There are no stairs to go to the terrace. The stairs are only till the landing, i.e. halfway to the terrace. The original landlord owned an adjacent four-storeyed building at the same address.

The person staying on the third-floor flat of the other building can access our terrace through his open window and claims that he has purchased the terrace from the original landlord, who died long ago. He has, however, refused to show the purchase document. My purchase deed also does not mention the terrace.

As I cannot go to the terrace, maintenance is becoming a problem. Rainwater accumulates on the terrace often and seeps through the walls and ceilings of my flat, damaging the decor. The building I stay in is more than 50 years old.

The person who claims ownership of the terrace usually stays in Bangalore.

The terrace can be repaired only by making temporary bamboo stairs from the outside.

Either I should be allowed to build stairs to the terrace or the person claiming to be its owner must maintain it or pick up the bill for the damages.

What are the remedies for maintenance of the roof and also for the damages in my flat?

Sukhendu Bikash Ghose

The person claiming to have bought the terrace has to pick up the bill for its maintenance. Else, he has to compensate for the damages inside.

If he cannot establish his ownership, you may go ahead with repair work. You may inform the local police station in case you apprehend any problem during the maintenance.

I am about to buy a three-bedroom flat where I have been staying as a tenant for the last 50 years. It would cost me around Rs 14 lakh, which would almost finish my savings. The flat on the Bondel Road and Ballygunge Place crossing measures around 900sqft.

How do I calculate mutation and registration charges, including conveyance deed costs, so that I don’t have to face any funds shortage after buying the flat?

Kuldip Roy

You have to pay 7 per cent stamp duty and 1.1 per cent registration charge on the value of the flat to be decided by the Calcutta Municipal Corporation.

The cost to make the deed of conveyance will depend on the lawyer. There is no charge for getting the mutation done.

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