COMPARISON BETWEEN CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING SOCIETY AND CONDOMINIUM

Act – Co-operative Society, which is regulated by the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960.

Act – An alternative to a Co-operative Housing Society was introduced by the Maharashtra Apartment Ownership Act, 1970. Condominium is a Building or Complex of Buildings containing a number of individually owned Apartments or houses. ownership of common areas is shared by all.

Requirement for formation – Generally require minimum 10 members/Flats to form CHS.

Requirement for formation – In Condominium, even one person who owns the entire building can form a Condominium provided there are at least five Apartments in the building.

Conveyance Deed of the land – The title of the land and the building is transferred and conveyed to the Society, which becomes the owner thereof.

Conveyance Deed of the land – The title of each Apartment rests with the Apartment owner, who also has a proportionate undivided interest in the land on which the building stands the common areas and facilities of the building.

Share Certificate – A Society issues certain shares to its members as per the Bylaws and the Share Certificate becomes an important title deed, since the allotment of the premises are related thereto.

Share Certificate – This is not so in a Condominium of Apartments/Buildings.

Management Committee – The affairs of the Society are managed by the Managing Committee which is elected by the members of the Society. The Managing Committee elects a Chairman, Secretary, and a Treasurer. Election conducted by State Co-op Election Authority(SCEA)

Management Committee – Similarly, the affairs of a Condominium are managed by the Board of Managers who is elected by the members of the Apartment Owners Association. The Board also elects a President, Vice-President, Secretary and a Treasurer.

Share Charges & Flat Transfer fee – Under the Model Bylaws, a Society can charge only Rs. 500/- as Transfer Fee with a maximum of Rs 25,000/- as a premium.

Share Charges & Flat Transfer fee – The Bylaws can be more flexible and the amount of Transfer Fee can be provided therein.

Renting Out Flats – In a Society, permission of Managing Committee including ‘Police Verification’ & Register L&L is required.

Renting Out Flats – In a Condominium, the owner can give his Apartment on lease or leave and license basis without the approval of the Board of Managers

Voting Rights – Every member has one vote, irrespective of the area of their premises.

Voting Rights – Every Apartment owner has a voting right in proportion to the value of his premises which is generally as per the area of the Apartment owned by him and which is defined while forming the Condominium.

Dispute Resolution – In a Society, disputes are generally referred to the Registrar appointed under the Act or to a Co-operative Court, depending on the nature of the dispute.

Dispute Resolution – The Court having jurisdiction over the area in which the Condominium is located, hears the disputes.

Membership cease & Expel – A Society can expel its member under certain extreme circumstances.

Membership cease & Expel – In case of a Condominium, there is no such provision. However, if an Apartment owner fails to comply with the Bylaws or the Rules and Regulations, either damages or injunctive relief or both can be claimed against him.

Nomination – In a Society, a member can nominate a person in whose favour shares of the Society should be transferred upon the member’s death.

Nomination – No such facility is available in a Condominium. An Apartment can be transferred to a person to whom the Apartment owner bequeaths the same by his will or to the legal representative of the Apartment owner’s estate.

Bye Laws of society – Bye-laws and Rules of ‘Society’ are binding on all the residents and nobody can act as per his/her whims. Hence, if the Society decides to ban any objectionable commercial activities in the flats such as noise-making music classes or using the flat for catering or courier activities etc or not to rent out to bachelors etc, then all the residents have to abide by it

Bye Laws of society – But if it is an Apartment, then owners can violate the Apartment Rules and the Apartment Body can just file a case in the Civil Court.

Redevelopment – When the building contemplates redevelopment after 25-30 years, the Society’s decision will be final and hence the Society members will have negotiation power with the builder at that time.

Redevelopment – But if in case of an Apartment, the consent of every Apartment-owner is required and hence it goes into an endless delay due to lack of a common decision acceptable to everybody.