The Supreme Court has ruled that builders or promoters cannot sell parking areas as independent units or flats because they are to be extended as "common areas and facilities" for the owners.
A bench of Justices R.M. Lodha and A.K. Patnaik in a judgment rejected the argument of a real
estate development company that they were entitled to sell garages/stilt parking areas as separate flats to owners who intend to use it as parking facilities.
"If a promoter does not fully disclose the common areas and facilities, he does so at his own peril. Stilt parking spaces would not cease to be part of common areas and facilities merely because the promoter has not described the same as such in the advertisement and agreement with the flat purchaser.
"The promoter has no right to sell any portion of such building which is not 'flat' within the meaning of Section 2(a-1) and the entire land and building has to be conveyed to the organisation. The only right remains with the promoter is to sell unsold flats.
"It is, thus, clear that the promoter has no right to sell 'stilt parking spaces' as these are neither 'flat' nor appurtenant or attachment to a 'flat', Justice Lodha, writing the judgment, said.
The apex court passed the judgment while dismissing the appeal of the promoter, Nahalchand Laloochand Pvt Ltd, challenging the Bombay High Court ruling that under the MOFA (Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act), a builder cannot sell parking slots in the stilt area as independent flats or a garage.