Society Now: Transform Your Apartment into a Smart Home with These Products

There was a time when families used to spend hours on deciding what shade of paint would look best on the kitchen walls or what kind of door latch to buy. The times have now changed, and today half the fun in setting up an apartment is in trying to make it a smart home.

For an apartment in a cooperative society, there are several areas in which an apartment management system can be used, but for this article, let us look at these five aspects - security, temperature, lighting, sound, and access.

Security: – The use of surveillance cameras for homes has been in vogue for some time. But in a smart home, you can aim for remote surveillance, and also real-time coverage. That way you won't need to take back up tapes or risk the chance of missing out important footage. Try the Arlo Smart Home Security Camera system which gives you crystal clear high definition (HD) recording. You can have the recording transmitted directly to your smartphone or any other device. This can also be tied up to the visitor management system of your society.

Society Now: Society Management Software

Temperature: – You must be aware of the thermostat systems which switch on or off the air conditioning as soon as a certain temperature is reached. But there are also smart systems which use their temperature sensors to double up as a fire alarm. The fire alarm will be in the form of a notification sent directly to your smartphone. The trigger for this notification would be the increase in temperature beyond a specified level or the detection of carbon monoxide in the air. You can try out the Nest Protect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm.

Society Now: Society Management System

Lighting: – You must have heard about the lights being dimmed or brightened as per the number of people in a room, or movement in a room, or even the ambient light from outside. The next progression in smart lighting is that the light from the bulbs in a room turn into different colors depending on your mood. The controls for this can be done through Wi-Fi. One of the best products of this type is the Philips Hue LED Smart Bulb Starter Kit.

Sound: – This might be the gadget that people most commonly associate with a smart home. We have seen and heard friends say ‘Hey Alexa’ or ‘Hey Siri’ to their virtual assistant. A smart speaker can very well be the center of activity in a living room because it can play music, give weather updates, locate restaurants and so many things. If you are the kind who often invites friends over for parties on the patio, then you might want to try out the Megablast Portable Speaker by Ultimate Ears. Just be sure to check with your residential management system if playing loud sound outdoors is permitted.

Society Now: Visitor Management System

Access: – There are several touchpad keyless latches available which can do away with the need for carrying a key for access to your apartment. The nest level in access control in a smart apartment is the electronic key that you can send to the smartphone of the person to whom you wish to grant access. The August 3^rd Gen Smart Lock is one such product.

You can use an overall residential management software or a tool like Society Now to control all these products from a single place.

Smart Security Tips for Apartments and Renters:

It is not enough to find a good apartment in a cooperative society. The safety and security of the apartment and your belongings inside the apartment is important as well. Usually one would expect a society management software to include elements of security. But as an owner or renter, it is also your responsibility to take care of the security. Let us discuss ten few simple ways to ensure that your apartment is safe:

1.    A basic safety precaution to take is to install a security system for your home. Do keep in mind that the residential management software would only cover the common areas. But for your apartment, you need to install your system. A typical system would include security cameras, alarm systems, and also smoke detector systems.

Society Now: Society Management Software

2.      We are used to seeing the big estates with huge grounds lighted up with bright lights in movies. But even if you stay in an apartment, it is not a bad idea to have external/outdoor lights installed.

3.      Many houses get burgled because of the simple reason of leaving balcony doors or other sliding windows open. An advanced security system is of no use if your doors and windows are open. Many people also underestimate the security risk of a balcony door if the flat is on the top floor. 

Society Now: Society Management System

4.      Banks offer safe deposit lockers to keep your valuables in. People use it to store jewelry, important documents, family heirlooms etc. If you have a long-standing relationship with a bank, you can ask for a locker, and shift all your valuables there.

5.      With the rise in popularity of social media, there is a growing tendency among people to post about every small and big trip of theirs before or during the trip. Avoid that temptation, and share your experiences after you return. Lots of burglars decide the time for their burglary after seeing social media posts.

Society Now: Housing Management Software

6.      You should also invest in good quality locks and bolts for your doors, even if you have installed a security system. There are pick resistant locks now available which make it almost important to break in.

7.      We usually think only of doors while buying locks. But many break-ins occur through windows. You should invest in window locks as well, which will secure a comparatively easy (for the burglars) entry point.

8.      A common way for burglars to enter nowadays is through the front door! Yes, you read that right. And no, we are not referring to the breaking in of the front door. Burglars often pretend to be someone they are not, like courier delivery boys, utility workers, repairmen etc. The way to prevent this is to install door chains and peepholes on your front door. If you are not sure whether you recognize the people you see through the peephole, open the door 4 inches after putting the chain lock in place, and ask to see their identification.

Society Now: Society Accounting Software

9.      Do not stay aloof from your neighbors. Get to know them, so that they feel confident about ringing your bell and reporting any suspicious activity to you. In case you are going away for a few days, they can be depended on to keep a lookout.

10.  You don’t need to be paranoid, but you should always keep an ear and eye open for any suspicious activity. It could just be a person you see outside your Society Now for two consecutive days but haven’t seen before.

Society Now: Smart Buildings Trends & Challenges for a Secure Future

When it comes to buildings, the best example of technology that was possible to be given until a decade or two back was the centralized heating control, lighting control, and lift operation. But today, the range of eye-popping technology is to be seen to be believed. As we prepare to move into 2019, let us take at the hottest trends we see in smart buildings and the challenges we face. 

Trends

Earlier we used to have separate control systems set up for lifts, lighting, security etc. and all the different modules were aligned to a single Building Maintenance System (BMS). There was no interaction or inter dependability of these functions. We have now moved on to what is referred to as iBMS. Whether it is access, security, or energy, smart buildings now have several features to take care of all these aspects.

For example, in a building, not all employees need to go into all places, and it is now possible to allocate different levels of access to different areas. These areas are usually designated by different colors on badges. The access controls are usually aligned with the security alarm systems as well and can send notifications to the smartphones of specific managers. 

The security aspects of a smart building have also undergone sea changes over the years. The emergency exits, the smoke and fire alarms and the surveillance camera systems of a typical smart building are all aligned. Most smart buildings have notification capabilities for the local police station and fire station.

Energy consumption is a big differentiator for smart buildings today. Use of electricity and heating systems are monitored, and the iBMS can modulate usage according to occupancy. Energy grids set up in smart buildings help to control the usage as per time and day of the week.

It is not only commercial or office buildings which are being designed in this way. There are several options available for society management software which can be used in a housing society app for these same benefits in the buildings of a cooperative society.

Challenges

Although smart buildings are becoming very popular now, they do come with their own sets of risks and challenges. Because the setup of smart buildings requires the use of huge amounts of data, they can be prone to theft of such data. Such breach of security is not good for a housing society management software, but for an office building or commercial building, the results can be even more disastrous. That is why robust security features will need to be incorporated. 

Second, like every new fad, the usage of the phrase smart building has frequently been wrong. Many buildings are wrongly termed ‘smart' to make them sound more attractive. A really smart building would have automation, use of real-time data, integration of all elements and good energy management. But many so-called smart buildings do not have many or most of these.

A good apartment management software should be able to incorporate elements of tenant management, facility management, and other related aspects seamlessly. But we still see examples of so-called ‘smart’ building which do generate and collect large amounts of data but in silos, and the integration is halfhearted at best, and missing at worst. Only a good software like Society Now would help you integrate perfectly.

Society Now: Smart Apartments - What Renters Actually Want in 2018

     Taking an apartment on rent has now gone beyond just looking at the quality of construction and the facilities available in the cooperative society in which the flat is in. What renters want in 2018 is a smart apartment they can live in. The innovation of smart homes makes the stay convenient and worry-free. Let us look at some of the features of a typical smart apartment that were most popular in 2018.

     Security – The safety and security of the house and the belongings inside is paramount to a person who has taken an apartment on rent. A smart security system allows the renter to keep track of the hallways and entryways remotely. Many homes have video monitoring inside the house as well. This is useful when there are pets kept inside for the day or when children have been kept in the care of housekeepers or babysitters. The renter can arrange to have relevant notifications sent to his or her mobile phones just by downloading an app on his or her smartphone. Installing this kind of a smart security system also helps in reducing the premium for theft and burglary insurance.

Society Now: Society Accounting Software

     Keyless Entry – There are many stories we have heard of people locking themselves out or misplacing their keys somewhere. Smart homes today come with remote-enabled or touchpad enabled access to both outer as well as inner doors. Often a home needs access to be given to service providers like pet walkers, babysitters, housekeepers, or even different family members arriving at different times of the day. These touchpad keyless locks allow user ids and specific passcodes to be allocated to multiple persons, so they can enter and leave home independently. In case a house has been rented for use as a home office, then such keyless entry touchpads can also be installed in the interior doors.

     Apartment Dashboard – Many apartment complexes provide a mobile phone application which renters can download on to their smartphones. This app provides a single dashboard under which every kind of information is provided for both renters and owners. This could be about daily activities like the arrival of school buses or water tankers, or occasional updates as well. These apps help the renter to be clued into the latest developments inside the housing society using the society management software. Another common use is a visitor management system which can help the committee in the society keep track of all visitors. This is also aligned with the security system of the society so that there are no unaccounted visitors.

Society Now: Society Management Software

     Lighting and Temperature Control – There are smart applications which can help save the renter’s energy usage while he or she is in the apartment or while outside. Inside the apartment, such an apartment maintenance app can switch off points which are not required, and turn off the heater or air conditioner when the temperature crosses or falls below a certain temperature. The presence (or absence) of movement in a room can automatically switch on (or off) the lights in the room. Automatically adjusting thermostats are another popular feature of smart apartments.

     Several good companies are providing very high-quality apartment management software like Society Now for the above features and more. This is in line with the Digital India initiative which encourages citizens to use and support digitization in every aspect of their daily lives.

Society Now:12 Smart Storage Solutions for a Compact 2BHK Home

Even if you are running a tight budget, and can’t afford a large home in a cooperative society with 3 or more rooms, then your stay needn't be an uncomfortable one. It is not necessary for you to throw away things and stop buying new stuff. With some smart planning, you can easily stay comfortably without feeling crowded in. Here are 12 storage solutions you can incorporate in your compact 2BHK house.

Think Outside The Bedroom: If you can set up open shelves or closed cupboards in the bathroom, you can use those to store hair dryers or clean towels instead of using up shelf space in other rooms.

Under The Sink’s Shadow: The sink is very useful, but it usually takes up a lot of vacant space underneath which is almost never used. Because the area is humid, you need to create a closed cupboard to use this space, and it must be water resistant.

Bed Storage: This is one of the oldest techniques used for space saving in any apartment management system, but it is still very popular and useful. People use these spaces not only for storing things like bed sheets, blankets or pillows, but even clothes or some oddly shaped objects.

Kitchen Rack: We usually have modular cabinets below the kitchen shelves, but a different alternative might be required. The first is when the number of utensils and cookware you have is more than the available storage space. The second is when you find it difficult to bend and take out things. In either case, a metal rack on the wall would help save space.

Stairs: This is another popular space saving technique. The space under the stairs can be used for open as well as closed storage. If you are using it to display some knick-knacks, then you might need some extra lighting as well.

Doors: This is a very useful place to hand stuff at, and this neither uses additional space nor does it catch the eye. That will help you keep some of your ugly stuff out of sight of Society Now.

Folding Furniture: We have seen folding chairs in many homes. But there are many other options available, like tables or beds which fold back into walls, foldable tables, and racks etc. These can be left as they are when in use, and can be folded and kept away after use.

Hang Up The Television: If you mount your television on the wall, it frees up lots of space on the mantelpiece which you use to store books or curious. For big rooms and big televisions, hanging on walls also makes it easier to view from a distance.

Use Your Garage: Many garage spaces are oversized to accommodate the larger cars. In case your car is of usual size, you should move some of the less used stuff to the garage and keep track of it in the society management software.

The Last Three: The three other things to do could be to get vertical shelves, use cubbies, and use small baskets in your closet. These are common solutions which do not cost a lot but help you make the best use of the available space.

The above 12 things can help you make the best use of the square footage of your 2BHK.

Society Now: Income tax rules for cooperative housing societies

By housing.com/news

Cooperative housing societies also fall under the ambit of income tax laws. We look at the tax rates, benefits available, the procedure for filing returns and deduction of TDS that are applicable to housing societies

As housing societies are not apparently engaged in any income-earning activities, there is a perception that they are not required to comply with any income tax provisions. This impression is heightened by the fact that housing societies are managed by honorary office bearers, who are generally not well-versed with the laws. A housing society is a legal entity and therefore, is treated as separate from its members. It has to comply with various legal laws, including income tax laws.

Status of housing societies under the income tax laws

Section 2 (31) of the Income Tax Act defines the entities that are treated as persons, for the purpose of income tax. A person is a basic entity under the income tax laws, which has to comply with various income tax provisions, including the filing of the return, payment of taxes, deduction of tax at source, etc. The definition includes ‘an association of persons or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not’.

All housing societies are registered under the cooperative society laws of their respective states. In Maharashtra, housing societies are registered under the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act 1960. Being an association of persons registered under a law, a cooperative housing society has to comply with the income tax laws, wherever applicable. As it is a tax entity under the income tax laws, it needs to have a Permanent Account Number (PAN), even for opening a bank account.

Tax benefits available to a cooperative housing society

Section 80 P of the Income Tax Act, allows certain deductions to cooperative societies, including cooperative housing societies.

While computing the total income of a housing society, any income derived by it by way of interest or dividends from any other cooperative society is fully treated as exempt. As housing societies are mandated to keep their deposits with cooperative banks, all of the interest received by it on its deposits with the cooperative bank shall be fully excluded from the income of the housing society. However, in case the housing society invests its funds with other entities like public sector banks or private banks, income from there shall become taxable in its hand.

Liability of housing societies to file income tax returns

Unlike an individual and HUF, for whom the law provides a basic exemption limit beyond which they are required to file their income tax returns (ITR), there is no such basic exemption limit for cooperative societies.

Hence, all housing societies are required to file their ITR by the due date, which is September 30 of the year following the financial year, as the accounts of the housing society are required to be audited under the provisions of their respective cooperative society laws. If the housing society fails to file its ITR by the due date, it has to pay interest on the outstanding tax liability in case the liability is not already discharged by way of TDS or by payment of advance tax, for the period of delay, in addition to interest liability on the shortfall in payment of balance tax after adjusting TDS and advance tax. In case the housing society fails to file its ITR by the due date, it can still file the same by March 31 of the year next to the period for which the ITR belongs. For the delay, the society has to pay a mandatory fee of Rs 5,000 if the delay is up to December but the fee will be Rs 10,000 if the delay goes beyond December of the next year. The mandatory fee for delay in filing of the return shall be restricted to Rs 1,000, in case the taxable amount of the housing society does not exceed Rs five lakhs.

Society needs to pay advance tax, in case its advance tax liability exceeds Rs 10,000 for a year in four installments on June 15, September 15, December 15 and March 15, in the ratio of 15 per cent, 30 per cent, 30 per cent and 25 per cent of the aggregate advance tax liability.

Taxation of housing societies

The tax rates and slabs applicable to housing societies are different from those of individuals and companies. Since there is no basic exemption, every rupee of the taxable income of the housing society suffers income tax.

For the first Rs 10,000 of the taxable income, after excluding the items discussed above, the society is required to pay income tax at the rate of 10 percent. For the next Rs 10,000, the applicable rate is 20 percent. On the income above Rs 20,000, the society has to pay tax at 30 percent of the income. In addition to the above, the society will have to pay a surcharge of 12 percent on the tax, in case the income exceeds Rs one crore in the year. The tax calculated shall also attract an education cess of three percent.

Liability to deduct tax, deposit and file TDS returns

Like the liability to have a PAN, pay advance tax and file its income tax returns, housing societies are also required to deduct tax on certain payments, like salaries to its staff, payments to contractors for carrying out any activity in the society’s buildings, on interest on money borrowed, etc. In order to fully comply with the TDS requirements, the society is required to obtain a Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN), so that it can deposit the TDS to the credit of the central government and also file the TDS returns periodically.

Disclaimer: The content has been sourced from a third party, therefore, we are not liable for the relevance and accuracy of the content.

Society Now: Can Housing Societies Refuse Tenants?

Times of India

Yes, they can, but if they infringe on the fundamental rights of a citizen, they can be challenged in a court of law

Sumanta Layak, 25, is used to rejection. Whenever he has to look for a house on lease in the National Capital Region, he goes through a harrowing time. Layak is well-qualified, has a well-paying job and has no criminal history. Yet, he is refused rental accommodation by most owners of housing societies. The reason? He is single. “Being single is the biggest disadvantage if you are looking to rent a house in the metros. This is because most housing societies disallow their members from leasing their properties to bachelors. So, even if the owner wants to give it on rent to a group of singles, the housing society won’t give him a no-objection certificate (NOC),” he explains.

According to real estate experts, being single is not the only reason that people find it difficult to rent a house in the top cities, though it is the most common one. “The society feels that a group of singles is likely to rough up the place and create the nuisance for other society members. Besides, bachelors typically don’t stick to a place for long and this doesn’t provide stability in rental income compared with that from families,” says Ramesh Prabhu, chairman of Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association.

The other reasons for refusal include keeping pets, such as dogs and cats, for fear that they will dirty the society or harm the children. “Besides, people with certain meal preferences are known to have been denied tenancy. There were some media reports as well about people belonging to a certain religion being denied permission by the housing society,” says Prabhu.

Can housing societies frame their own laws?

If legal experts are to be believed, the housing societies can indeed frame their own laws. According to Ravi Goenka, advocate, Goenka Law Associates, there are broad guidelines, or bye-laws, that every housing society adopts when it is registered. These rules and regulations govern the day-to-day functioning of the housing society and are crucial to its smooth running.

“These guidelines are typically framed under the Co-operative Societies Act, which is a Central Act. This provides specific guidelines for a society to be registered with the municipal corporations, its governance structures, common area maintenance rights, dos & don’ts, accounting practices and various other covenants related to leasing/ purchasing a house within the society,” he explains.

The Act also offers a degree of flexibility to societies to add regulations of their own, he adds. “For instance, if the housing society has made a rule for tenants, according to which they cannot park their vehicles in the parking slots allotted to members, then they have every right to enforce it,” he explains.

Can the housing society overrule a flat owner?

Om Ahuja, CEO, residential services, Jones Lang LaSalle India, explains that though it is the legal right of the owner to lease his property, the housing society in which the flat is situated, too, has a say in it. “Individual societies are legally empowered to deny tenancy based on their bye-laws. In many cases, such bye-laws are interpreted in a certain manner in order to achieve this. However, they have no constitutional right to do so,” says Ahuja.

Besides, the housing societies that impose additional maintenance charges on the apartment owners who have leased their property are legally allowed to do so under The Societies Act. According to Goenka, bye-law 43(2) of the Co-operative Housing Societies Act mentions a proper format according to which a member of the housing society can sublet his house to tenants.

Can the bye-laws be challenged?

Vinod Sampat, president, Cooperative Societies Residential Users Association, and a real estate lawyer, explains that any regulation which infringes on the fundamental rights of an individual can be challenged in the court of law. “The housing society regulations don’t have the same stature as that of a law. Every Indian citizen has the right to reside anywhere in the country and discrimination is not allowed on the basis of religion, caste, sex, eating habits or marital status,” he explains.

So if a tenant feels a housing society has not been fair, he can file a police complaint against it, claiming infringement of his rights as a citizen. The member, too, can take legal recourse, such as approaching the civil or the cooperative court. He can also appeal to the deputy registrar of housing societies concerning his grievances. In fact, there have been several cases, where the courts have ruled in favor of the owner and against the housing society. According to Sampat, as per a recent court judgment, pets such as dogs and cats are also regarded as family members, and tenants have every right to keep them. “Besides, it is not mandatory for the housing society to issue no-objection certificates. What is mandatory is police verification,” he adds.

Disclaimer: The content has been sourced from a third party, therefore, we are not liable for the relevance and accuracy of the content.

Society Now: How You Can Transform Your Apartment Into a Smart Home

Since the times are changing and technology is making inroads in everything we do, smart homes have become a reality with the availability of modern gadgets and other digital innovations. The availability of home automations systems, gadgets and apps have made homes smarter and comfortable than ever before. There are certain cool systems, apps, and gadgets available that can make the apartment a little bit smarter.

Let’s begin with Smart Thermostats!

Smart Thermostats are intelligent temperature controllers that can adjust the temperature according to your surroundings and requirements. The technology pays learned attention to thesettings you like and give you the required temperature. This can be adjusted through the smartphone app or through the motion detectors so they can adjust the temperature and energy use based on your location.

Smart Baby Monitors

This technology allows the parents to keep a watch over their babies through a micro camera that keeps an eye on baby’s nursery or crib. These cameras also come with a night vision that keeps a strong eye on your little one that they are OK at night.

Smart TV

Smarts TVs come with a whole lot of features that can be controlled through a single remote. The features include voice-activation, interaction and streaming of gaming capabilities. Also, various online streaming sites make it easy for you to choose programs for different members of the family.

Smart Lighting

The modern smart lighting captures your movements and switches it on and off accordingly. That’s called light automation and it saves a whole deal of electricity, helping you to control the electricity bill. The lights can also be controlled through smartphone apps and make it easy for you to control the on/off process.

Smart Locks

Smart lock system works through passwords and numbers and be accessible to only the family members. You can access smart lock system from your smartphone to unlock or lock your doors. If you have gone out of the home and forgotten to lock the door, you can do it from your mobile app.

These automation and digital assistance system can make your home more secure and smart.

There are certain technologies that make living in a township society much easier, which eventually benefits your apartment. The features are following –

-Interactive/User-friendly Dashboards

-A society info module

-An accounting module

-Society helpdesk

-Smart Society module

-Facility booking and event

-Smart install pole

-Society general operations

-Society document repository

-Smart parking system

-Classified system

-Classified section

-Buy/Sell and rent feature

-Other features include Refer and Earn, Jobs & Career, Reminder Tab, Personal Financial Tracker, Society Budget vs Expense Tracker, Role Assignment/Role Change, Live App Demo/Tutorial, and User Friendly Web and App.

When the smart gadgets team up with smart society features, provided by Society Now, your apartment becomes a 100% pure smart apartment.

Using the internet, smart gadgets, computers software, apps, and digital products, a simple traditional home can easily be turned into a smart phone. Society Now is doing just that – it’s turning the whole townships into a smart township eventually giving each apartment the benefit of digital technology.