Fatwa: # 15476
Category: Financial Transactions
Country: South Africa
Date: 6th August 2007

Title

Can I give the managing agents who collects the levies, the instruction to add interest on any owners overdue accounts

Question

I am the Vice Chairperson of my Body Corporate in JHB and also the Trustee responsible for finances. A clause in the contract that each resident signed with the developer states that interest will be levied on overdue levies.
 
Can I, as the Trustee responsible for finances, give the managing agents who collects the levies, the instruction to add interest on any owners overdue accounts. The levies paid is used for amongst others, payment for garden services, security, rates, water etc and for the common property.

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh

It will be a sin for you to give an instruction to add interest on overdue accounts. Interest is haram. Assisting in haram is also a sin.

And Allah knows best

Wassalam

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa

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