‘No amenities for 1 bhk residents, but…’: Viral post alleges discrimination at Karnataka society

A tenant shared a frustrating ordeal with the bylaws at a “big” housing society in Karnataka, which bars its 1BHK residents from using amenities like the gym and swimming pool. The tenant shared that despite the ban, the society charges them the same monthly maintenance as other residents who have access to full amenities.

In a viral Reddit post, the Karnataka tenant wrote: “Big society does not allow 1 bhk residents to use the amenities but takes maintenance.”

The tenant shared that she was paying a “fairly higher rent” for his 480 square feet one-room kitchen apartment, on the promise that she would be able to work out in the society gym and swim in the swimming pool.

“I am living in a fairly big society. When I moved into the society was just being formed. I moved into a 480 sq ft 1 rk in the society. I am paying a fairly higher rent for the 1 rk to be able to use the amenities as I work out in the gym and swim as well,” she wrote.

However, soon, she said the owner informed her that some people have a problem with 1 bhk residents using the amenities, “and if given an option to buy lifetime access to the amenities, my owner would buy it so me and the future tenants could use the amenities.”

“I never thought society would actually bar us from using the amenities now,” the tenant, already shocked by the ban, wrote: “They are not even allowing a 1 time payment for buying access to amenities. We have to pay like a guest per day if we want to use the amenities.”

“The worst part is they are taking maintenance from us,” she added.

In a separate comment, the tenant highlighted that the maintenance is per sqft of apartment, instead of the same maintenance for all apartments, irrespective of the size of the apartment. “So every apartment pays maintenance as per their apartment size, including 1 bhks.”

The tenant asked fellow Redditors if this is allowed. “Isn't it discrimination and against basic rights?” she asked.

Here's what the netizens said:

The post quickly garnered attention on social media, with netizens saying that there isn't any rule that bars a 1BHK owner from amenities available to others unless a clause was added at the time of buying the property.

Several users suggested that the owner probably already knew of the clause and still chose to rent out the apartment at a higher price with the promise of those amenities.

“It's illegal unless there's some stupid clause in your unit/ flats agreement with the builder or some authority, which is probably not the case,” a netizen said. “Get to the bottom line, read everything. Go to the registrar office/concerned authority for socities and raise your matter. This will most probably back off the society's rule.”

“I know of a few projects where 1bhk or studios have a separate amenities area that's limited and don't have access to the main clubhouse, pool or sports amenities, even car parking is not allotted, only 2W parking available,” a social media user said. “But the builder clearly mentions this in the sale deed, and owners are well aware of that, they have not been charged for that and hence won't be able to make use of it in future.”

Another user suggested that the tenant ask the owner to lower the rent, as she is not getting the promised amenities. “Also, post this everywhere, naming the building, saying that tenants should be aware before renting there. Most of such 1 bhk and 1 rk flats are used by owners for investment purposes. They have zero interest in getting you amenities or anything as long as they are getting the rent. The only way to force them to do something is to attack where it hurts.”

However, the tenant replied, “I have asked my owner to reduce rent multiple times. She says I may leave if the rent is too much for me.”