Noida: Tenants living in several high-rise societies across Noida are facing additional charges for using common amenities such as swimming pools, gyms and clubhouses. The practice has triggered a debate over whether renters are being treated differently from homeowners despite already paying monthly maintenance charges.
Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) defending the practice say the charges are intended to regulate amenity usage, maintain security and meet the cost of operating shared facilities. Tenants, however, argue that as legal occupants of the apartments, they should have access to common amenities on the same terms as homeowners.
The issue has emerged across multiple societies, although the rules and charges vary from one residential complex to another.
Tenant At Golf City Says Additional Charges Feel Unfair
Arpita, a tenant at Golf City, Noida, said she pays ₹3,000 every month as maintenance charges. She was recently asked to pay an additional amount to use the society’s gym and swimming pool.
According to her, the rent agreement specifies a monthly rent of ₹30,000 along with a refundable security deposit. It also mentions maintenance charges but does not specify an additional fee for using the swimming pool.
Arpita said the additional charge has made her feel singled out as a tenant.
She also claimed that security personnel are stationed near the pool and gym to verify whether users are tenants or homeowners.
For tenants, such checks have become another point of contention, with some saying they feel they are being treated differently simply because they do not own the apartment.
Supertech Capetown Charges Tenants for Amenities
At Supertech Capetown, tenants are reportedly required to pay an amenity charge of ₹500 per month for an individual and ₹1,000 for a family.
RWA president Gaurav Arora defended the policy, saying it was introduced after the association found damage to gym equipment.
According to Arora, the society began imposing the additional charge around two years ago after investigating damaged equipment in the gym.
He said the decision was intended to protect the facilities and that the money collected is also used for welfare-related work in the society.
Arora acknowledged that homeowners had already paid towards the facilities but said the additional charge was introduced as a measure to provide greater security and protect shared amenities.
Grand Ajnara Tenants Question Additional ₹1,000 Charge
The issue has also surfaced at Grand Ajnara, Noida, where families are reportedly charged ₹1,000 per month for amenities.
Some tenants have questioned why they should make an additional payment for facilities that form part of the society’s common infrastructure.
One tenant, speaking on condition of anonymity, said residents already pay maintenance and therefore find it difficult to understand why another monthly payment should be required to use the gym or swimming pool.
The tenant also said that before signing the rental documents, they had asked the owner and broker about amenity charges and were told that the facilities were available to everyone.
Skytech Matrott Tenant Raises Cost and Dignity Concerns
At Skytech Matrott, tenants are reportedly charged ₹650 for amenities.
One tenant said that while the amount might initially appear small, the recurring payment eventually adds significantly to household expenses.
The tenant also raised concerns about the manner in which renters are treated while accessing facilities and questioned how the additional money is being utilised.
According to the tenant, there have been no noticeable changes or improvements to the gym or swimming pool that would explain the additional charge.
Charges Also Reported at Dasnac The Jewel and Pan Oasis
At Dasnac The Jewel, tenants are reportedly charged ₹700 per month for amenities. A tenant questioned the rationale behind imposing the additional fee when maintenance charges are already being collected.
At Pan Oasis, the arrangement is somewhat different. A resident said both owners and tenants are charged separately for using the pool and gym, although homeowners pay ₹100 less.
The resident said residents pay ₹2,000 as maintenance in addition to the amenity charges.
Not All Societies Differentiate Between Owners and Tenants
The practice, however, is not uniform across Noida’s residential societies.
At White House, Noida, owner Virendra Prasad said both homeowners and tenants are charged for amenities.
According to Prasad, the charges are ₹300 for the swimming pool and ₹800 for the gym and apply to everyone, irrespective of whether they own or rent their apartment.
He said the facilities were previously covered under maintenance but separate charges have helped the society manage their upkeep more effectively.
The example indicates that some societies have chosen to impose user charges uniformly rather than creating a distinction between owners and tenants.
‘There Is No Rule’ for Such Tenant Charges, Says NOIDA Extension Federation
The issue has also drawn criticism from representatives of homeowners’ groups.
Noida Extension Flat Owner Welfare Association president Abhishek Kumar said there is currently no specific rule determining ownership-related amenity charges for tenants living in high-rise societies.
He described the practice of charging tenants separately as differentiation and alleged that RWAs, AOAs and developers were adopting such mechanisms to place an additional financial burden on tenants.
Noida Authority Says Rules Are Yet to Be Framed
Noida Authority ACEO and head of housing groups Vandana Tripathi described the issue as an emerging problem associated with the growing number of residential settlements.
She said that decisions taken by AOAs and RWAs in such matters are, in many cases, arbitrary.
According to her, residents facing such problems should initially take up the matter with their landlords. She also indicated that the Authority is aware of the issue but cannot intervene until specific regulations governing such matters are in place.
Tenant Amenities Become New Flashpoint in High-Rise Societies
The debate over amenity charges highlights a larger issue in Noida’s rapidly expanding high-rise communities: the absence of uniform practices governing the rights and responsibilities of tenants.
While RWAs argue that additional charges can help manage facilities, prevent misuse and fund maintenance, tenants contend that they already contribute financially through rent and maintenance and should not face additional charges merely because they are renters.
The situation is particularly complicated because practices differ significantly between societies. Some charge only tenants, some charge both owners and tenants at different rates, while others impose the same user fee on everyone.
For thousands of tenants living in Noida’s high-rise societies, the question now is whether access to common amenities should depend on ownership status or simply on lawful occupancy of a home.
Until clear and uniform regulations are established, the issue is likely to remain a source of friction between tenants, landlords and resident welfare associations.