Service charge software for flat owners’ associations in Bangladesh

The Real Estate Development and Management Act, 2010 (Act No. 48 of 2010). Most of its sections are treated as in effect from 7 December 2008, while the sections on offences and penalties took effect immediately (s. 1(2)). It covers private and public-private projects but not projects run entirely by the government (s. 3), and it also reaches a landowner who builds flats for sale on their own land (s. 7(2)).

Within three months after the buyer has paid the full price, the developer completes the handover of possession, the execution of the deed and its registration (s. 9(1)). If the flat turns out larger or smaller than agreed, the price difference is settled at the purchase rate within three months (s. 9(2)).

The Act says every flat must have its utility services — water, electricity, gas, sewerage, waste management and fire protection, where applicable — connected before handover (s. 11(2)(b)). The developer has to take effective steps for the connections listed in the prospectus or allotment letter before handover (s. 13(1)), but is not held at fault for a utility’s delay if the applications were filed and followed up (s. 13(2)).

Repairs needed because of construction defects are done at the developer’s own cost for at least two years from the date of handover (s. 11(2)(c)). Separately, under the terms agreed between the parties, the developer maintains the property for at least one year after handover (s. 11(3)). Keep the handover date on record; both periods run from it.

No facility may be reduced and no common space changed by deviating from the approved plan (s. 11(4)). The Act’s own list of common space includes the lift lobby, staircase, lift machine room, generator substation, caretaker room and guard room (s. 2(2)). At allotment the developer also gives a statement of the civic facilities marked on the project’s plan and layout (s. 11(5)).

Each buyer is to receive copies of the approved architectural plan, the structural design and the building services drawings (electrical, mechanical, plumbing), together with the possession handover letter, countersigned by the developer (s. 18(6)). An association that gathers these from its members has the building’s technical record in one place before the developer’s maintenance year ends.

A service charge balance for every flat, with each payment recorded against the flat it belongs to. Automatic reminders go to the flats that are behind, each month’s charge appears in the owner’s resident app, and notices and repair requests from residents are logged and followed until closed. The Act is about the developer, the landowner and the buyer; how your association sets the service charge comes from your own documents and decisions, and Unitify keeps whatever split you agree.

There is no integration with a bank or a mobile wallet. Owners pay as they do today, and Unitify records the payment against the right flat. Paying online by card inside the resident app needs a payment provider connected for your buildings; we agree it per project.