Wait 3 months to slap RERA on builder

Mumbai: Homebuyers who want to lodge a complaint against their builder, for alleged cheating, with the recently introduced Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) may have to wait for as long as three months.

The reason behind the wait is that the housing regulator introduced by the state on Monday has given three months (from May 1, with July 31, 2017 being the last date) to builders of all ongoing projects to register them with RERA. Only after the projects are registered will complaints be taken up against the registered projects.

In this case, if builders do not register their projects with RERA, buyers cannot complain against builders to the authority. Gautam Chatterjee, interim officer heading RERA in the state, said, “For now, we would be more involved in the process of registering the projects of builders and registering real estate agents. All the builders who have their projects ongoing have to register their projects within three months starting from May 1, 2017.”

Speaking about complaints from buyers, Mr Chatterjee, said, “We as RERA can only act or issue notices to the projects of the builders who are registered with us. So, those who want to complain against their builder will have to wait until that, as builders have three months (to register their projects). Later, when a complaint is received we will issue notices to the builder and hearing will take place further.”

There are thousands of buyers in the state who have their cases piled up in consumer courts against alleged cheating or fraud by their builders. Meanwhile, the authority has already received two applications from private builders executing their projects in Titwala along with 10 estate agents applying to get registered, as of Tuesday.

Once the two above-mentioned projects are registered with RERA, buyers can complain against the two builders in case of any grievance. “A unique identification number would be created and would be uploaded on the website of RERA along with their project details. Buyers can complain on the basis of the unique identification number with RERA,” added Mr Chatterjee.

However, according to the Act, if any builder fails to register as per RERA Act, he shall be liable to a penalty, which may extend up to 10 per cent of the estimated cost of the real estate project. On continued violation, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend up to three years.