Sell flat and invest vs rental income in retirement

Retiring with a family flat can present a dilemma between earning rental income and selling the property to invest elsewhere. A panel of experts weigh in on the considerations.

Vidya Bala, co-founder of PrimeInvestor.in, suggests that properties can become a burden to manage as one ages. Issues like maintenance, tenant relations, repairs, legal paperwork and supervision may turn a valuable asset into an ongoing responsibility. If pension income covers living expenses, retaining the property might not be the most efficient choice.

However, Bala notes that selling the flat could be a practical decision, especially if there's no strong desire from the legal heir to keep the house. The proceeds could then be directed towards more manageable investments.

Amit Maheshwari, managing partner of AKM Global, explains the capital gains tax implications of selling the property. The sale of a residential flat acquired in 2001 for Rs 30 lakh, now valued at Rs 1.65 crore, triggers Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) tax. Taxpayers can choose between a 20% tax rate with indexation or a new 12.5% rate without indexation.

For the given scenario, the 20% tax regime with indexation is more beneficial, reducing the tax outgo by approximately Rs 6.44 lakh. The tax liability can be further minimized by reinvesting the gains in another residence within the stipulated timeframe or by investing up to Rs 50 lakh in specified capital gains bonds within six months of the sale.