Delhi warehouse or duplex: where do the real ownership costs sit?

R

route.fresh

Landlord
Established
The 170 m² size is workable for either option, so the choice is being driven by costs that may not appear in the initial comparison. I am looking at a Delhi warehouse and a similarly priced duplex.

The warehouse has fewer obvious day-to-day maintenance demands, but a long vacancy could leave me paying for security, insurance and upkeep without income. With the duplex, I need to understand whether exterior work and shared-building reserves are pooled or become irregular bills for the owner.

I have already allowed for service charges, energy use, insurance and eventual resale. What should I request next to compare tenant demand, vacancy exposure and the management time each property is likely to require after year one?
 
I wouldn’t assume the warehouse is simpler. Its routine upkeep may be light, but vacancy can turn into a long period with no income while security, insurance and basic maintenance continue. Tenant requirements may also differ sharply, so check whether the space works for more than one narrow use. For the duplex, the big question is whether major exterior and shared-area costs are pooled or fall directly on you.
 
How are you planning to use them: occupy the duplex yourself, or rent out either property? That changes the comparison. Also, is the duplex part of a managed building or effectively independent? “More control” can mean fewer service charges, but it can also mean personally arranging every repair and carrying the full timing risk.
 
A dependable exit route matters, but calling one property residential does not prove it will be easier to sell. A duplex with awkward ownership terms, high recurring charges or substantial work ahead may have fewer realistic buyers than expected.

The warehouse has a narrower audience, yet that audience may be easier to identify if the access, power and layout suit several business uses. I would compare likely buyers and barriers to resale for these two specific properties. The ownership structure is especially important because it will be difficult to change later.
 
Before deciding, request an itemised history of service charges and major works for the duplex, then list the warehouse’s roof, access, drainage, security and power-related responsibilities. Price insurance for the actual intended use of each, not just the building type. Finally, stress-test both with a vacancy period and one large unplanned repair. That should expose whether the real trade-off is cost, cash-flow timing or management effort.
 
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