Apartment Management Archives | Page 2 of 29 | ApnaComplex Blog

apnacomplexnitin
January 17, 2022

How to handle ‘smoking troubles’ in Societies?

Smoking and gated communities in India have never gone hand in hand, and according to STATISTA , there are around 14.8% smokers in the country.

From this 14.8%, there can be no denial that a substantial number of smokers are living in gated communities and the management can not ban them from smoking in their own house – which is their private space. And in the eyes of the smokers, banning it would be an utter sin and we really needn’t have to do that.

On the other hand, the management cannot give smokers free rein to smoke anywhere, anytime. After all, children, the elderly, and immunocompromised people also live in gated communities, and passive smoking can damage their health too which they never asked for.

So, in this case, what should the management do? In this article, we share some steps that the association can implement to meet the needs of all the residents keeping in mind the welfare of the others.

Implementing Smoking Regulations

The more we try to ban smoking, the more stubborn people will want to continue doing it. Therefore, regulating smoking in gated communities is a prudent thing to do.

Below, we bring a handful of steps the management can take to regulate smoking that will encourage coexistence amongst smokers and other residents.

– Prohibit smoking in common areas (anyway this is an offence according to the law). If you catch someone smoking, fine them heavily.

– Provide smokers with a designated area and see how their faces lit up! Build a ‘smoking room/area’ probably on the terrace or top floor of the building as smoke wafting down the building is negligible.

– Even though ventilation and air sealing in apartments can minimise the smoke, they are not of much help when smoke wafts via windows and doors. To deal with this, request residents who smoke to install smoke filters that have proper smoke ratings. These filters will prevent the smoke from wafting or recirculating other areas.

– Support can be the strongest bridge between smokers and non-smokers. Every community will have a handful of smokers who are attempting to quit smoking for good. Encourage them by having a reward system. Offer gifts to people who have gone without smoking for at least a week as an appreciation. You can even conduct programmes related to the ill-effects of smoking to create awareness and encourage the ‘quit-smoking movement’.

– Residents complaining of smoke entering their flat is a very common scenario in gated communities. As a first step, request them politely to close the windows, use air fresheners and install smoke filters. If they ignore your requests, go to the association and make a formal complaint and let the management deal with it. Even then if the problem isn’t resolved, consider legal action.

– Importantly, speak to children about the ill effects of smoking and why they shouldn’t smoke when they become older . Smoking isn’t hard to miss especially by the curious eyes. Educate them about the health hazards of active and passive smoking. This will encourage them to stay away from the smoking zone.

Studies have shown that passive smoking can cause respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and can even develop cancer. When expecting mums are exposed to tobacco smoke, the infants are likely to develop birth defects including respiratory illness, congenital abnormalities, may weigh less during birth, and in worse cases, there is an increased chance of stillbirth too.

Convey the health hazards of passive smoking to smokers and how they are putting others in danger too. Additionally, communicate about the severity of COVID 19 complications amongst smokers. This will propel them to at least consider quitting smoking.

The best approach towards smoking in gated communities is regulation, education, empathy, and awareness. With the right tools in hand, you can certainly make ‘smoking problems’ in your community a thing of the past.

apnacomplexnitin
January 10, 2022

Help your Society go ZERO-waste with these tips!

Reports suggest that 33% of waste isn’t managed and processed in an environmentally safer way. On average, a single person generates from 0.74 to 4.45 kgs of waste in a single day. These numbers are an indication that effective waste management and gated communities’ contributing to a zero-waste lifestyle are the need of the hour.

In this article, we bring out a few tips that will help your society adopt a zero-waste lifestyle.

Waste segregation is the key

To manage your Society’s waste better, it must be segregated better. Every human should know the materials present in the waste and isolate them properly.

This segregation enables the waste pickers to differentiate between degradable and non-degradable waste and send them to appropriate recycling units. Likewise, poor waste management and untreated waste can release harmful chemicals and toxins into the environment causing air, water, and soil pollution.

Follow the 3 R’s diligently

Another key move to embrace a no-waste lifestyle is to respect and follow the 3R’s – recycle, reuse, and reduce. As consumers, we must consider our choices and purchase products that cause minimum waste and harm.

For a better environment, unnecessary consumption has to be addressed and we must reuse products that we already have as much as possible.

Avoid single-use plastic

Single-use plastics are the biggest waste contributors that are also harmful to the environment. Avoid products like single-use plastic straws, cutlery, bags, water bottles, etc. These products take hundreds of years to decompose and also hamper the zero-waste lifestyle.

Welcome second-hand products

Don’t shy away from second-hand products. If you want to buy a laptop or two-wheeler, see if anyone is selling theirs for a fair price. If the product meets all your requirements, then don’t hesitate to buy. You not only save ample money but also there will be one less two-wheeler or laptop in use.

Similarly, put up periodic garage sales in your society for residents to buy and sell used goods. This will majorly contribute towards the zero-waste lifestyle.

Indulge in composting

Organic waste materials such as vegetable peels, eggshells, leftovers, discarded coffee grounds, etc can be added to the composter daily. However, avoid coconut shells since it will take a longer time to decompose and also fry waste.

Some of the perfect spots for having a composter are a terrace, garden area or balcony.

Today, there are several kinds of composters available and you can pick one according to your needs, and your family’s size. Composting options for Societies are also available and can be done in a single spot such as the terrace, beside the driveway, sidewalk, STP area, etc.

When done right, composting is not only simple but also smell-free. Composting is also one of the huge contributors to zero waste.

Conduct workshops and seminars

As a community, be vocal about sustainability and waste management. Conduct workshops about waste management and zero-waste lifestyle to create awareness among your residents. This will make them conscious about the products they buy and use and will have a positive impact overall.

Going zero waste cannot happen overnight but with small and consistent changes it is achievable. These changes will have a positive impact on your Society, residents, and the environment.

Take these little steps today and see your environment and lifestyle change!

To know about how to reduce pollution in your Society, read here!

Leave a comment InApartment Management Eco Living Waste Management Waste Management in Apartments

apnacomplexnitin
January 4, 2022

Moving-in and moving-out – here are the do’s and don’ts to know!

Moving-in and moving-out are common scenarios in every gated society. If you are new to living in a gated community or if you are a part of a newly formed association, then it is vital to know and have standard procedures in place.

Having a criterion helps the management know about the new residents who are moving in and enables them to onboard the new residents into the Society’s system. Likewise, it also helps them keep a record of residents who are moving out.

The Association of GM-Infinite, Phase 1, Bengaluru, shares the basic procedures they follow with ApnaComplex which you can implement for your society as well. Keep reading to know about the do’s and don’ts of the move-in/out process!

The Do’s

– Before the tenants move in/out, the owners must inform the association and furnish full details at least a week in advance via email including the date of the move-in/out, new tenants’ details, etc.

– A small move-in charge can be levied on the new residents while they are moving in. For instance, GM Infinite levies a one-time payment of Rs.1000 via online or card payment.

– Have a rule that move-in/out can happen only during particular hours. GM Infinite allows move-in/out only between 8 am and 7 pm.

– The new tenants must furnish ID proofs, rental agreement, and/or owner’s Email to initiate their registration with ApnaComplex.

– They must furnish their vehicle’s RFID (if there is one), RC Book photocopy, ID proof, parking allotment copy, etc.

– The residents who are moving out must clear all their maintenance and other dues before initiating the move-out procedure.

– They have to return the RFID sticker (if applicable).

– The management must delete the moving out tenants’ records in the ApnaComplex app.

– The NOC from the Maintenance department must be submitted at the security gate before moving out.

Don’ts

The don’ts listed below are primarily applicable to the tenants and are pertinent to their stay inside the Society.

– Tenants must never take the Society or the association for granted. They must never violate Society rules that are stipulated.

– They must never fail to pay the maintenance dues.

– They must never indulge in any sort of commercial activities inside the residential premises. If the residents are found to be non-compliant, the association has all the right to take necessary action against the said tenants.

The above rules are applicable to most of the Societies and these do’s and don’ts can be altered depending on how each Society functions.

Having a guideline in place makes things easier for all the parties and streamlines the whole process. We hope you find the above guidelines useful. To know how you can efficiently streamline and automate your Society’s everyday operations, please visit our website – apnacomplex.com.

Leave a comment InApartment Apartment Management Apartment Owners Association Bye Laws Community Living

apnacomplexnitin
December 17, 2021

Why should societies choose a paid society management app?

The term ‘free’ has a mass appeal anywhere. It brings in the crowd, helps drive product sales, and it is an age-old tactic to get rid of old stock. The biggest drawback of ‘free stuff’ is the lack of quality and free society management apps are no different.

A society management app is designed to handle the Society’s finances, complaints, enable better communication among residents and the committee members, and store community database – all automatically. Creating a fool-proof app requires in-depth R&Ds, meticulous coding, and several hours of labour.

With a free app, you can be assured that you will be robbed of some of the best and efficient features a society management app can offer. Keep reading to know these catches!

Lack of Data-Protection

You can be assured that a paid app like ApnaComplex would never share or misuse members’ data since we truly believe, our residents’ privacy is sacrosanct. User privacy is so important to us that even ApnaComplex employees do not have access to sensitive data. ApnaComplex ensures that users alone have full control over their personal details.

However, one of the biggest concerns with a free society management app is the data protection or lack thereof. When an entity offers a free app, they are very likely to use the residents’ data for their personal gain committing a gross violation of privacy.

Invoices not in line with govt directives

A paid society management app integrates all the government rules and regulations making the app compatible with all the gated societies. Overdue penalties, GST, and other arrears are auto-calculated considering government regulations. A paid app also eliminates the need for manual intervention.

However, this is not the case with a free app. Auto-invoices are not designed keeping in mind the government regulations concerning taxes. Manual interventions are often required to ensure precise calculations.

No mechanism with defaulters follow-ups

A paid society management app can be configured to send reminders to residents when their maintenance payments are due. Additionally, the app gives you a detailed list of the defaulters and for how many days they are due.

On the other hand, a paid app provides you with a vague list and does not send reminders. It is also incredibly hard to manually follow up with all the defaulting residents.

Not-so smooth year-end process

Paid society management apps are loved by treasurers and auditors thanks to the advanced accounting module that enables auto-freezing of entries after a particular period, and auto-reconciliation of the balance sheet. This simplifies a treasurer’s life and they can enjoy their newly-found.

With a free app, there is no such thing as automation and you can as well kiss your weekends goodbye!

Lack of comprehensive financial statements

A paid society management app offers in-built financial report formats that are approved by an auditor. For instance, ApnaComplex offers 100+ financial reports that can be used by societies depending on their requirements.

However, this privilege is something free society management apps do not offer.

Auditing

When you pay for a society management app, audit FAQs, auditor compliance, and support are also included smoothening the entire auditing process. In fact, ApnaComplex offers 30+ audit-ready financial reports. The same cannot be said for a free society management app.

Other services

A paid society management app offers end-to-end financial management solutions including auto-updating of the logs, auto-generation of FD and TDS reports, vendor expenses, etc. Whereas, a paid society management app offers the bare minimum and nothing extraordinary.

Being a paid app, ApnaComplex goes above beyond to add convenience to both the management committee and residents. Our app is,

An Integrated Solution

ApnaComplex completely automates and streamlines your Society’s operations. Both the ERP and Gate Management systems are seamlessly integrated within a single app making ApnaComplex a top choice for gated communities.

Effortlessly customisable

ApnaComplex is the perfect solution to make life convenient for the residents, staff, and committee members. The app allows the committee members to customise the app according to their needs without having to be dependent on any support team.

Platform Stability

With 11 years of industry presence, ApnaComplex offers a stable platform like no other. The app functions seamlessly and is accessible to the members anywhere, anytime. Additionally, our expertise in the functioning of housing societies has won the trust of thousands of apartment communities.

To know more about modules and features, and for a free demo, please click here.

Implement these 5 tips to brighten your home workspace!

The news of the Omicron outbreak – a new variant of the novel coronavirus and the increasing COVID-19 cases is forcing companies to postpone reopening offices and many have already extended work from home.

Though work from home (WFH) adds convenience to employees and their wallets are a little heavier than before, we cannot ignore the ramifications of WFH especially on mental health.

In this article, we share a few tips on what you can do to improve and brighten your home workspace and make the best of what you have.

Let your house and home office shine

Nothing is more calming and lively than a well-lit house. Keep your home and workspace ventilated and let sunlight bathe the rooms as much as possible. If your room doesn’t have enough ventilation, brighten it by adding twinkling lights and lamps. This will uplift your mood too.

Similarly, paint your house with light and cool colours that can reflect the sunlight better. According to studies, these colours are also soothing to the mind and aids in reducing stress.

Remove clutter

A cluttered house/home office will definitely add to the stress. Take time and declutter your workspace and house and keep your home pristine in general. These will have calming effects on your mental health and improve overall wellness.

Style your home office with minimal interior decoration and get rid of items you seldom use. Keep dustbin inside your office room so that junk doesn’t litter the ground and desk. These measures can have a profound impact on your health and can even up your efficiency.

Make comfort your priority

The office room is where you spend most of your day and therefore invest in furniture and chair that supports your back. An uncomfortable chair strains your back muscles. Likewise, add cushions and footrest for additional comfort.

Coming to the desk, ensure that its height reaches your chest while using it. This reduces overall strain. Importantly, stretch your body often throughout the day and indulge in some exercises that improve posture. Bad postures and constant sitting over a period of time will have long-term complications on the spine.

Be time conscious

One of the biggest disadvantages of WFH is not keeping a track of time. While engrossed with work, you are very likely to work overtime and doing this for months at a stretch will cause burnout.

Also, take 10 minutes every one hour. This will give sufficient rest to your mind and enable it to function better. It is also important to have ‘me time’. Indulge in things you love like reading, baking, watching video games or playing a sport inside your premises. This will do you a lot of good.

Include greenery and some quietness

Like sunlight plants also have invigorating effects. Indoor potted plants add aesthetics to the house and also, act as natural air purifiers and have mild detoxification effects. Sweet-smelling herbs can calm your mind and bring down stress.

Also, keeping the room quiet as much as possible is vital for efficiency. Too much noise distracts and affects performance. Eliminate this hurdle by making your room sound-proof or investing in good noise-cancelling headphones if you are living in a noisy neighbourhood.

One of the biggest downsides of WFH is is human interaction or the lack of it. In these times, it is unwise to step out of your house or community just or invite guests.

If you are living in a gated community, you can easily reduce the intensity of this negative implication. Interact with your neighbours and form clubs with like-minded people. A tool like ApnaComplex helps bring communities together through its robust Communication module.

Using ApnaComplex you can connect with other residents and start discussions, create groups for various purposes and interact with like-minded neighbours, absolutely clutter-free. The management can also send notices and broadcast important messages instantly. Additionally, ApnaComplex’s CORONA SHIELD helps you to covid-proof your society as much as possible. This adds an additional layer of safety to your community.

To know more about these features and modules, please visit our website.

The Committee Starter Kit – Here is what you should know if you’re new to the Management Committee!

Committee members – they are the backbone of a society. From handling finances to brainstorming for the development of a Society, they offer their time and energy for the wellness of the Society.

They also enjoy certain powers; and as Uncle Ben said, “with great power comes great responsibility!”

In this article, we shall explore the roles, responsibilities, snags, and how an app like ApnaComplex can help eliminate these hurdles and enable a committee to discharge its responsibilities efficiently.

There are four primary roles in a Management Committee – President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Security In-charge.

President

A president is expected to have high leadership qualities and should have the ability to take important decisions. She/he should also have a fair knowledge of the law, rules, and regulations.

A president’s roles/responsibilities include,

• Defending the society against any legal action.

• Suing people/parties for legal purposes.

• Framing of rules and regulations for the society

• Resolving conflicts among residents and building a stronger community.

• Overseeing all the expenses of the society and ensuring the money is used correctly.

• Chairing all the meetings conducted by the committee.

The truth be told, for a President, executing the above actions is not always easy. Here we bring some of the issues faced by a President and how can ApnaComplex help them resolve them.

Limitations

ApnaComplex Solution

Constantly checking if the Society is legally compliant.

Ensuring that the Society is following all the government guidelines to a T.

Ensuring all the residents are following the rules and regulations of the Society.

Confronting improper conduct between the residents and resolving conflicts.

Maintain transparency in the decision-making and how the funds are used.

Communication – Community collaboration tools available on the app make your communication easy and smooth.

Notice board – Send important notices via multiple channels using the ApnaComplex Notice board.

Chat group – Create groups and bring the entire community together.

Accounting services – Our Billing & Accounting module is fully GST Compliant.

Expense tracking – Plan your Society’s budget and expenses using the app and keep your financial status transparent.

Treasurer

A Treasurer or Accountant handles the entire finances of a Society. Their roles and responsibilities are:

• Record all financial transactions and report all surplus & deficits.

• Responsible for tax compliances and all other financial regulatory obligations

• Responsible for promptly processing payments of all society expenses.

Like the President, a Treasurer also encounters his/her fair share of issues and ApnaComplex offers perfect accounting solutions which are discussed below.

Limitations

ApnaComplex Solution

Difficulties in reconciling the balance sheet.

Manually entering financial statements that are time-consuming.

Planning the Society budget and providing transparency to it.

Constantly following up with the residents to collect maintenance and other charges.

Ensuring that the transactions are compliant with the GST.

Filing of Quarterly E-TDS returns and generating Form-16A.

Automated Billing – The app offers 100% Automated Society Billing & Collections with Zero Convenience Charge

Auto reconciliation – The ApnaComplex app auto reconciles the financial statements.

Auto-reminders – The app sends auto-reminders to defaulting residents.

100+ financial reports – ApnaComplex offers complete Accounting Software with GST support and real-time financial statements. Additionally, 100+ financial and 30+ audit-ready reports can be accessed.

Accounting – Daily accounting and bookkeeping services are also coordinated with statutory auditors.

Secretary

A Secretary also plays another vital role in a Society. She/he is responsible for:

• The executive administration.

• Records and registers including cash book, audit register, etc.

• Conducting Committee Election thoroughly in the manner prescribed.

• The recruitment, functioning, and compensation of the service staff.

• Inspection of the property and flat.

However, it is not always possible for a Secretary to be everywhere at once. Below, common issues faced by a Secretary, and how ApnaComplex can help them are given.

Limitations

ApnaComplex Solution

Monitor the daily operations of the Society.
Resolving residents’ complaints instantly and keeping track of every single complaint especially in large Societies.

Inspect property of the Society and flats often.

Manually communicate important notices to the residents quickly.

Manage all the official documents manually which can be a daunting task.

Centralised complaint tracking – using ApnaComplex, complaints, suggestions, and requests can be tracked effortlessly and the app offers a three-step escalation matrix.

Budgeting – A Secretary can plan Society’s budget through expense tracking and provide transparency in Society expenses.

Watching the Guards – With ApnaComplex Guard Patrol Tracking, Secretary can keep accurate track of all patrols inside the Society.

Polls & Survey – Get authentic feedback from residents from the online survey and polls service.

Security In-charge

In a Society, a Security In-charge is expected to,

• Arrange and oversee the security and the associated duties.

• End-to-end management of all daily staff.

• Security Infrastructure in Apartment Complexes.

• Visitor Management in Apartment Complexes.

• Management of courier/delivery.

Alas, Security In-charge does face certain limitations. Both these limitations and how ApnaComplex can solve them are listed below.

Limitations

ApnaComplex Solution

Unknown visitors ending society can pose a security risk.

Tracking the patrolling of the security personnel is not always possible.

Tracking of visitors becomes difficult.

Recording, maintaining, and verifying the information provided by the visitors can be cross-verified.

It is difficult to keep track of the unauthorised entry of vehicles.

Gatekeeper – ApnaComplex Gatekeeper app is a one-stop security solution for apartment complexes.

Sleep peacefully – With guard Patrol Tracking keep accurate track of all patrols inside your society.

Eliminate unknown visitors – Residents can update “Expected Visitor” details on the ApnaComplex app which eliminates unknown or unauthorised visitor entry.

Track material movement – Track items being carried out of the gate by vendors, service staff, and visitors.

Apart from these four roles, there is an IT head or in charge, who is appointed to handle the app. Likewise, there will be additional members to the Management Committee like the Vice President, Assistant Secretary, etc who will be extending support to the primary Committee Members.

These Committee Members work together seamlessly to offer support, assistance, and safety for the residents, and ApnaComplex aims to simplify and streamline operations using smart and intuitive technology.

To know more about our modules and features, please visit our website.

With ApnaComplex and Ola, say yes to EV charging stations

Even though electric vehicles are gaining popularity among the Indian masses, there is a hesitancy to purchase EVs due to the lack of charging stations. To solve this very issue, at least among the gated communities, ApnaComplex has partnered with Ola Electric to install electric vehicle charging stations in societies managed by the former for free of cost.

By installing EV charging stations through ApnaComplex, societies can enjoy the following benefits.

– The installation is done completely free of cost and the societies need not pay any capital amount to have EV charging stations installed.

– Societies can earn revenue through electric vehicle brand activations. They can rent out spaces to EV companies and earn revenue via rents. Having EV charging stations will make these activations more relevant.

– Having EV charging stations installed in societies will encourage residents to buy EVs thereby creating a cleaner and greener environment for residents and children alike.

– The charging stations offer convenience to residents who are already using EVs.

– This move by societies will comply with the upcoming government regulations on EV and EV charging stations.

By the year 2030, the number of vehicles that will be running on roads is expected to increase by a whopping 200 million in India according to ICCT – The International Council on Clean Transportation.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had revealed that India aims to reduce carbon emission by one billion tonnes by 2030 at the COP26. To balance this and to achieve our Green India goals, transitioning to electric vehicles (EV) is the need of the hour, for it is one of the best ways to reduce carbon footprint.

With 32% of all households living in societies in the top 50 Indian cities, and most families owning one or more motor vehicles, commencing the transition here would certainly have a profound impact in the long run.

By embracing electric vehicles, people of today can pave the way for a greener tomorrow. Join the EV revolution, do your bit.

If you are from an ApnaComplex Society and interested in installing EV charging stations in your society, please write to support@apnacomplex.com.

If you are not an ApnaComplex user and want to know more about this, please write to sales@apnacomplex.com or call 8088611229.

Leave a comment InApartment Bangalore Eco Living

apnacomplexnitin
December 1, 2021

Enjoy 100% Data Privacy, only with ApnaComplex

In the year 2017, the Supreme Court of India declared “privacy” a fundamental right of every citizen. Subsequently, the Personal Data Protection Bill was proposed in the year 2019.

The bill proposes a restriction on how personal data are used and prohibits the misuse of the data. How any of this is related to ApnaComplex, society management, and most importantly, residents and their data?

When a society deploys a society management app or software, collecting, storing, and using the data frequently is a part of the process to ensure seamless society operations. However, how the company uses the data entrusted to them sets them apart.

In this article, we bring you why data privacy and protection is a big deal to ApnaComplex and how your data is safe with us.

Your privacy, our priority

To ApnaComplex, residents’ privacy and data protection are of utmost importance. We are the only brand that has prioritised residents’ data security and protection over anything else.

While the top players of the society management industry, who came into existence less than five years ago have landed in controversies due to data-breach accusations, we are proud of the fact that in 11 years since our inception, there have been zero security breaches with ApnaComplex.

Paying – not always a bad thing

Yes, ApnaComplex is a paid app but the privacy and data protection you get while using our app is indeed priceless! With ApnaComplex, you don’t ever have to worry about your personal information being shared with other parties.

If you are not paying for a product, you become the product

By paying for our services, you become our premium customers and we have policies that prohibit misusing or selling resident data for rental and other businesses. The price we charge is so affordable that it does not cost more than a cup of coffee for each household!

And for this price, you not only avoid unsolicited calls and emails but can live in complete privacy and utter peace.

Premium Services with data security

In the ApnaComplex app, we offer a plethora of relevant premium services and offers to the residents, but we have never nor will we ever share any resident data with these third-party services.

These services are primarily offered based on the exclusive discounts they offer to ApnaComplex residents. The vendors are carefully selected and only after vetting them thoroughly.

Role-based access

ApnaComplex inherently supports role-based access. It not only comes with 30+ inbuilt roles but also allows societies to define custom roles to meet any of their work delegation preferences or data access.

Be it an action or a document in the repository, you can control access at not only rudimentary levels of resident/owner/ Management Committee but can define a role for people or groups of people who have access to it.

This adds an additional layer of protection to residents’ data. For example, if a society has a corrupt Facility Manager or staff who is looking to make money by selling user data, they can easily do so in another software by downloading the data.

However, in ApnaComplex, they cannot access the data without getting permission from the respective authorities and this will make it hard for them to download or misuse the data.

Data privacy is one of the core values of ApnaComplex and we 100% agree with the Supreme Court – privacy is the fundamental right of every Indian citizen. In fact, even the employees ApnaComplex do not have access to any sensitive data.

We strongly believe that everyone should have access to technology that simplifies their life without the fear of their privacy being violated. You, the user alone have the power to decide what information you want to share, and to whom you want to share.

ApnaComplex is designed in such a way that users’ privacy is protected and they alone have full control over their information.

To know more about our modules, features, and how we can help you streamline your society’s operations, please visit our website.

Effective ways to overcome the pollution menace in Delhi’s Housing Societies

Neha Misra, Estate Manager – Tata Housing shares a handful of apartment-centric tips to reduce/prevent pollution in Delhi/NCR’s housing societies.

It is the time of the year for people living in the NCR. They are masking up doubly in light of the increasing pollution.

Emissions from vehicles and other industrial activities are at an all-time high and the AQI (air quality index) remains to be unhealthy as the atmosphere is encompassed with smog.

Given this situation, the Delhi government has imposed several restrictions including a ban on construction works (one of the highest contributors) to combat pollution. While the Delhi government is contemplating the imposition of the odd-even rule in the city, the Haryana government has already enforced it in four districts.

If you are someone who is living in a housing society, what can you do to protect your surroundings as much as possible from this pollution menace? In this article, Neha Misra, Estate Manager – Tata Housing shares a handful of apartment-centric tips.

Air-purifying plants

Neha, who is currently managing Primanti Garden Estate in Sector 72, Gurugram and New Haven Bahadurgarh at Jhajjar, Road Bahadurgarh for TATA insists on having indoor plants for she reckons they not only beautify the building but also act as natural air-purifiers.

“Snake plant, money plant, areca palm, spider palm plant, bamboo palm, the beautiful peace lily, and the succulent and medicinal aloe vera are some of the air-purifying plants we have potted throughout the buildings, in common areas, yoga room, clubhouse, etc,” Neha said.

These plants are better than commercial air-purifiers any day since they are natural, harmless, and absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen which refreshes the air.

Wise use of recycled water

Recycling water and smart use of recycled water is one way to reduce excess water consumption. “We use recycled water for our horticulture purposes and to water plants,” Neha said.

In both Primanti Garden Estate and New Haven Bahadurgarh, Neha and her team have implemented one innovative approach to ensure that the outside dust doesn’t waft into the societies.

“In the morning, we spray this recycled water on the road outside and inside of the societies so that the dust settles in and does not blow into the societies.”

Zero-construction and reduced manpower

Since there is a ban on construction in and around Delhi, developers, including Tata Housing are not engaged in any construction works. This will likely have an impact on the pollution and is expected to improve the AQI.

Apart from respecting the ban and diligently following government rules, Neha and her team have implemented a few other restrictions to reduce air pollution in their societies. Speaking about these she said, “ we have limited the number of people entering the societies for any work inside. We have also put restrictions on certain repair works such as tile replacement or break of walls since these will spread more dust adding to the pollution. These initiatives are helping us reduce air pollution in our complexes at least”.

Neha hopes that the pollution levels will come down and the AQI will improve in the coming weeks so that the ban will be lifted and they can resume the construction works.

Switch from diesel to gas generators

Housing societies in the NCR are looking to switch from diesel to gas generators as per the government’s advice. Neha said that once all the societies make the switch, it will have a profound impact on the surroundings and will be the biggest contributor towards reducing pollution.

Though this will be challenging for already constructed buildings (they have installed diesel generators only), she believes this transition is the need of the hour.

Choosing ash bricks over red bricks

Neha emphasised that Tata Housing uses ash bricks instead of red clay bricks for all their building.

Ash bricks are produced using the waste materials coming from coal combustion in thermal plants. Whereas clay bricks are made using clay collected from the topsoil or fertile land. This makes ash bricks the top choice here since it is more eco-friendly.

It is worth mentioning that ash bricks are stronger than red bricks.

When asked about what can societies across the country can do immediately to reduce the pollution levels in their complexes, Neha said there are no shortcuts here.

“From placing air-purifying plants to utilising treated water effectively, these are the major initiatives we do to combat this pollution. Societies should install STPs (Sewage Treatment Plant) to reuse water. Well, it is impossible to stop water wastage thoroughly but we can minimise it as much as possible. Likewise, societies should recycle and reuse anything and everything they can like garbage, RO water, and segregate waste and ensure that minimum waste exits their apartment complex.

Societies should also service diesel generators often to ensure that excess emissions are not released into the atmosphere. These are some of the things societies can do operationally to ensure minimum waste is exerted into the environment”.

She insists on planting more trees and said that Tata Housing actively conducts plantation drives in all their housing societies at least once in six months or every quarter.

Neha uttered that humans are the sole contributors to the ongoing pollution crisis and therefore it is our responsibility to minimise the damage as much as possible. “The Government has set out guidelines to follow and we must factor them in and follow it diligently. We have come to a state that today children are born with breathing issues. Ultimately, we are reaping what we sow. If we do not try and control pollution today, things are not going to be any better tomorrow. To give a clean and green environment to our future generation, we have to act now”, Neha concluded, and we couldn’t agree more.

About ApnaComplex

We are an 11-year-old society management app specially curated for Indian societies. Our modules were created to simplify and streamline operations in apartment complexes and have undergone several modifications based on the feedback and suggestions provided by the Management Committee members.

This not only makes the only mature solution today for gated communities but also a solution for by and for the Management Committee.

To know about our features and modules in detail and for a free demo, please visit our website.

Leave a comment InApartment Articles Eco Living Housing Society

apnacomplexnitin
November 15, 2021

Discover the secret to reducing your society’s maintenance fee!

Levying a monthly maintenance fee is vital for running a gated community smoothly. However, exorbitant charges can be a bummer to the residents and likely to cause discord among the Management and residents.

In this article, we will explore the ways using which you can reduce the expenses of your society which will directly contribute to a reduced maintenance fee and increase the savings of the treasury.

Bid adieu to overstaffing

Through the means of community automation and smarter technology, now effortlessly reduce the number of staff you deploy. In a study, it was discovered that an app like ApnaComplex is instrumental in both streamlining the operations and cost reductions.

In an apartment complex, earlier 9 security guards were working on three rotational shifts 8 hours each and two supervisors were managing them. This security team costs the society INR 1.71 lakhs each month.

However, once the ApnaComplex app was deployed, the management was able to monitor the security guards’ routine and patrol better. QR codes were pasted around the building and the patrolling guards were asked to scan the QR code often throughout their guard duty to ensure that they were up and vigilant.

It was concluded that ApnaComplex reduced the total guards from nine to six who worked in two 12-hour shifts and only one supervisor was needed instead of two thanks to the superior monitoring tool available.

The Management had to pay only INR 1.08 lakhs every month to the new security team which means, a net saving of INR 63,000 was possible each month! It was also observed that ApnaComplex improved the quality and efficiency of the guards.

It is worth noting that the above study is only the tip of the iceberg. Through ApnaComplex’s various other modules, the extent of cost-saving can be much more.

For instance, ApnaComplex’s Accounting module comes with auto reconciliation of balance sheets which eliminates the need for an external auditor. This directly contributes to cost-saving. Likewise, online transactions and digitally storing data remove the need for manual cheque collection and storage.

Say hello to efficient staff management

In another case study conducted by ApnaComplex, it was noted that efficient and smarter staff management can do wonders to your society’s treasury.

In another society, four electricians were working two shifts of 12 hours each and their total cost came up to INR 48,000 per month. When the ApnaComplex app was installed in the society, not only did the complaints raised by residents via ApnaComplex reach the electricians immediately, the app also allowed the electricians’ manager to raise a job card and monitor how quickly the problems are resolved.

With the help of ApnaComplex and better planning, the electricians were able to tend to multiple households on the same day with improved efficiency. Likewise, better monitoring and planning reduced the number of electricians from four to three and it cost the management INR 36,000.

Smart and sleek operations offered by ApnaComplex enabled the society to save INR 12,000 every month.

Adopt smarter Inventory Management

Along with the study on electricians’ efficiency, inventory management was also observed. When the inventories and their availability were updated on the ApnaComplex app, it was noted that the storage of light bulbs, socket covers, tube lights, etc were substantially improved which also led to a faster turnaround time.

To boot, inventory and complaint data available on the ApnaComplex app also helped the management identify recurring errors and malfunctioning assets. Using ApnaComplex they were able to find the root cause of the problem and fix it at the origin. This enabled the management to reduce wastage and asset replacement.

Through smarter management and better inventory replenishment, the said society was able to save INR 8,000 every month, the study noted.

Apart from helping you save money, an app like ApnaComplex can also help you increase your society’s revenue. Our modules are tailor-made for gated communities are app is the only mature solution available today. To know how else we can benefit your society, visit our website.

Leave a comment InFinancial Maintenance Charges

Category Apartment Management