“Tenants locked in repair tussle with landlady”

Alok Tholiya

THOLIYA BHAVAN. GR. FLOOR,

10^th ROAD, NEXT TO REGENCY HOTEL,

SANTACRUZ (EAST), MUMBAI: 400 055.

Tel. 26125699  /  M.9324225699.

tholiya@yahoo.com

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Reg: Article “Tenants locked in repair tussle with landlady” published in page 2 of TOI on 26th May....

Dear Clara, (Reporter Times of India)
Hi,

1.    This is about ur above article. Did you ask the tenants how much rent they are paying per month to landlady?

2.    Do you know that there is a law that all tempos older then 15 years have to be discarded? Why? Then why 50 year and older building which are falling year after year and precious life and property are lost are not asked to be compulsorily redeveloped rehousing old occupants?

3.    You have reported that tenants are saying she wants to redevelop her building. Is it a crime to redevelop? Even most of the new buildings of flat owners are being redeveloped with the availability of extra FSI and TDR.. Then why she should not be cooperated by law, officials and tenants to redevelop her property. Govt. should ask banks to finance landlords to redevelop their property giving them 4 FSI as is being given to builders developing unauthorized slums.

4.    You have reported that tenants apprehend that landlady wants the building to collapse .While you have also reported that she stays on top floor. Will her life and property be not in danger if building falls?

5.    You have reported that she stays on top floor and terrace is just above her flat. How on earth the water leaking from terrace enters lower floors to flats of tenants? Have you personally satisfied yourself against this allegation and can you elaborate on this? Normally water will first enter landlady’s flat. And if there is leakage on her floor too then water will percolate down to lower floor. You say tenants flat got flooded. Do you know the dictionary meaning of flooded, leakage, seepage? Have you used word flooded  to create bad opinion about fraternity of landlords the shelter providers? Have you used this adjective under influence of Trustee of Jaslok hospital? The truth is known to only Holy Jesus and you.

6.    Did you ask tenants to support landlady in rebuilding as there is a limit to repairs. Is not it unwise to spend huge sum of money on dilapidated building which you say is getting flooded.

7.    Has Times of India been only getting news about suffering tenants? Why don’t you visit two of my buildings to see how much as a landlord I have to suffer and tenants are staying free and because of biased reporting of newspapers all including Police and   courts are having sympathy towards tenants and are against landlords.

Pl. visit my two tenanted buildings and atleast report facts about suffering landlords.

I will be shortly mailing more facts about tenants and rent act, builders and new breed of landlords, courts dealing with rent matters. I don’t want to tire you in a one shot hence closing this mail,

Hope to receive your reply on above,

Bye,

Alok Tholiya