Srinagar, April 29: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir is yet to formulate a policy for the renewal of expired leases related to its housing properties, even as multiple cases of unauthorized subletting have come to light.
The Housing and Urban Development Department said that a policy for re-tendering and renewal of expired leases has not yet been finalized. Consequently, expired leases across various housing colonies have not been re-tendered through an open bidding process, it added.
As per the official documents accessed by Rising Kashmir, 69 cases of unauthorized subletting of properties have been identified. Notices were issued to the concerned parties, and replies are currently being examined on a case-to-case basis.
It said that further action will be taken under the law once the scrutiny process is completed.
Regarding the steps to ensure better management of housing properties, Jammu Municipal Corporation has notified its Residential Accommodation Bye-Laws, 2020 to streamline property management. The J&K Housing Board has launched an online portal for rent collection during the financial year 2023-24.
The document also reveals that in case of violations of lease agreements, notices are issued, and unsatisfactory replies can lead to cancellation of the lease deed under the relevant rules.
On the issue of rent collections, official data shows that the Jammu Development Authority developed 14 colonies with 10,618 allotments and regularized 31 colonies with 4,602 plot holders. Over the past five years, the JDA has collected a total ground rent of Rs. 89,82,610.61.
In Srinagar, the Srinagar Development Authority has allotted 5,899 properties, including plots and flats. However, leases in 4,614 of these properties have expired. The SDA collected Rs. 35.82 lakh as ground rent over the last five years.
The J&K Housing Board has allotted 510 flats and 8,762 plots on a premium basis and rented out 336 flats at Sunjwan, Jammu, during 2023-24 for an initial period of three years. Rent received up to February 2025 was Rs. 82.51 lakh, with Rs. 2.45 lakh outstanding.
The Jammu Municipal Corporation reported 130 residential properties on rent, receiving Rs. 19,48,026 during 2023-24, with an outstanding amount of Rs. 14,85,350, it added.
