Builders must provide basic amenities to flat owners: MahaRERA

‘Natural justice demanded that the builder provide at least basic services at the earliest’

The Maharashtra Housing Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) came down strongly on a builder for failing to provide promised amenities on Thursday, setting a consumer-friendly precedent for such cases.

The Mumbai skyline at Worli. (HT Photo)

In a case filed by Jaideep Joshi and Vishwadeep Singh against the builder M/s Build Supreme Union JV for the project Florista County in Pune, MahaRERA asked the builder to provide potable water connection and firefighting equipment within three months. It also directed the builder to hold monthly meetings with flat owners and asked for a compliance report from both parties on a quarterly basis till the promised amenities have been provided.

According to the complainants, “The respondent (builder) has not provided the basic amenities for the project such as provision of portable drinking water through PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation), cleaning of garbage bin pipeline, LPG connection through pipeline, fire hydrant system, amphitheatre, safety and security of the occupants, rain water harvesting, club house sports etc.” They demanded compensation for the physical and mental trauma they faced for not being provided these basics despite being given possession of their flats in October 2017.

The builder’s argument was that the project is still under progress and the flat owners had moved in ahead of schedule. “The development activities in the said project are still under progress and all amenities will be provided by 31-03-2019, i.e. within the time specified in the registration with MahaRERA,” said the builder.

However, MahaRERA said that natural justice demanded that the builder provide at least basic services at the earliest.

According to Advocate K K Ramani, who specializes in MahaRERA, this order is likely to deter builders from making unrealistic promises in the future. “Since the builder has promised them various amenities, homebuyers are bound to get them and now, MahaRERA has made sure it happens,” said Ramani.