Burial Plot Maintenance Costs You Should Know About

Those who have passed away deserve to be laid to rest with dignity, in keeping with their nature as human beings. The deceased take none of their wealth with them; they are simply buried wrapped in a burial shroud in a grave. Yet even after death, when they need peace in the afterlife, families still have to cover recurring costs, namely the grave levy.

In line with community tradition, it falls to the family of the deceased to take care of all funeral expenses, including burial costs and grave rental. Many people may find the cost of a funeral a heavy burden.

In this article we will discuss the typical range of grave maintenance costs a family needs to prepare for. First, we will look at the types of burial grounds available in Indonesia.

Types of Burial Grounds

In Indonesia, there are currently two types of burial grounds: public cemeteries (Tempat Pemakaman Umum, or TPU), which are managed by the regional government, and premium private cemeteries.

The two types naturally differ in price and in the fees you pay to the regional government or the private operator.

In general, premium private cemeteries typically cost considerably more, reflecting their higher standard of maintenance compared with TPU.

Some popular private cemeteries in Indonesia include Al-Azhar Memorial Garden and San Diego Hills.

Public Cemetery Fee Rules

Under DKI Regional Regulation No. 1 of 2015 on Regional Levies, the maximum cost of public grave services in the Jakarta area is IDR 275,000.

These maintenance costs cover land rental for 3 years at a maximum of IDR 100,000, ambulance rental of IDR 100,000, and body preparation of up to IDR 75,000.

Grave land rental is usually divided by block category over a 3-year period. If you wish to extend the rental, the fee is 50% of the original levy. If you do not pay the extension fee, the plot may be made available for a new burial.

Private Cemetery Fee Rules

As explained earlier, private cemeteries are always more expensive. This is because operators provide more than just burial land; they arrange the grounds as landscaped gardens that offer comfort to visitors and families. They also provide 24-hour security.

As an example of private cemetery costs, San Diego Hills sets its prices starting from IDR 115,412,000 for a single burial category, and IDR 8,257,000 for one plot containing 18 grave slots.

For Al-Azhar Memorial Garden, prices range from roughly IDR 21,903,750 for the single category, and IDR 199,224,500 for the family category, which you can use as a final resting place for your family.

Burial Cost Ranges in Jakarta

The highest cost is for the AA I block grave type, at IDR 100,000 for a 3-year period. Block AA II costs IDR 80,000, and block A II costs between IDR 40,000 and IDR 60,000.

The figures above cover only the land fee. In practice, every burial requires other expenses, such as digging and closing the grave, tent and chair installation, funeral accessories, headstones, sound systems, flower offerings, and many more.

In the end, a single burial can cost anywhere from about IDR 3 to 10 million. Unfortunately, at some public cemetery sites, unscrupulous brokers (calo) take advantage of families' circumstances, pushing costs much higher and placing a heavy burden on them.

There is also the cost of hearse vehicles and their equipment, which differs between in-city and out-of-city trips. In-city use costs IDR 500,000 to IDR 1 million per trip, while out-of-city use costs around IDR 2,500 per kilometre.

How to Arrange a Burial and Avoid Brokers

The Jakarta provincial government has introduced an online system for members of the public who wish to apply for permits to use grave land. To help you avoid brokers, make sure you understand the procedures for arranging a grave online as follows:

1. Prepare the Required Documents

Several documents you need to prepare before arranging grave maintenance costs include:

• ID cards (KTP) and family cards (KK) of the heirs or applicant, and the deceased's ID card (KTP).
• A letter of introduction from the village office (kelurahan).
• A body examination letter, which you can obtain from the community health center (puskesmas) or the hospital.
• A death certificate from the village office (kelurahan).

2. Visiting the Public Cemetery (TPU) Office

Once you have prepared all the documents in full, the next step is to visit the TPU office to choose a burial plot.
You don't need to worry, as staff will be there to guide and direct you. You, as the heir or family representative, will then receive an introduction letter to the village one-stop service office (PTSP).

3. Visiting the Village PTSP Office

After the TPU office, the next step is to visit the village PTSP office to obtain a Regional Retribution Determination Letter (SKRD) for the grave block and plot you have chosen. Complete the registration and verification through the TPU online system at that village PTSP office.

4. Paying the Retribution at the Bank

To arrange the grave maintenance fee, you must first pay the retribution through a bank. You will receive a validation number, which you can hand back to the PTSP office to obtain the IPTM (burial permit), valid for three years and renewable as you wish.

5. Going to the Nearest Public Cemetery

Once you have completed the payment administration and all required documents, you can go directly to the nearest TPU to arrange the complete funeral service, including facilities such as a sound system, tent, chairs, and grave digging and closing services.

Trusted Funeral Services

Care does not end with the affairs of this world; even those who have passed away deserve the best grave care. As the heir or family of the deceased, you should be able to choose a trusted funeral service with funeral insurance costs that remain affordable.

Grave care for the deceased aims to ensure that the graves of family members or relatives who have passed on remain well looked after. In addition, choosing funeral service fees that are affordable aims to ensure that the heirs or family left behind are not burdened by costs that weigh heavily on them.

Some things to consider when choosing a funeral service with affordable grave care costs include:

• Transportation of the body.
• Facilities for preparing the body.
• A comfortable funeral home.
• A proper public cemetery (TPU).
• Condolence money for the family.
• Transportation for the bereaved family.
• Refreshments on the day of mourning.
• Photo documentation during the burial process.
• Funeral home decorations or available flower stands.
• Grave equipment such as coffins, ash urns, or headstones.
• Other needs for mourners, such as religious leaders, ritual supplies, and so on.
• Memorial books or Yasin books.
• Assistance with paperwork such as death certificates and letters confirming death.
• Grave maintenance for a certain period.

Continued

Besides paying attention to these matters, you can also choose a grave care service that offers a last will feature, which you can write before you pass away. There is also a wish listfeature to prepare for all your future funeral needs.

Then, choose a service that can guarantee your family's protection by registering your family members with it, both children and other family members. The goal is that, upon passing, they will receive proper and the best care and funeral arrangements.

Kamboja is a trusted funeral protection service in Indonesia. Kamboja provides planning, arrangement and funding services for funeral needs for every member of the family.

The professional team at Kamboja is on standby 24/7 to receive reports of a death and to handle everything from the process through to arranging your funeral in the future.

Every aspect of your funeral needs will be discussed in advance with your family & heirs to make sure everything goes smoothly and according to your wishes.
You can contact Kamboja's contact to have these discussions beforehand.

Do You Know the Cost of Grave Maintenance?

The above is an overview of the typical range of grave maintenance costs in the Jabodetabek area. For areas outside Jabodetabek, the costs are not much different, so you can also plan and prepare for them from now on.

Be sure to avoid illegal practices that charge grave maintenance fees above the proper rate. Therefore, before paying, you should first learn the official government regulations on retribution fees so that you do not fall victim to irresponsible individuals.