In its first month, HRERA receives over 160 complaints against builders

CHANDIGARH The Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HRERA) has received more than 160 complaints against builders in the first month since its inception. Of these, the authority has taken cognisance of 12 complaints.

The authority rejected most of these aggrieved home buyers’ complaints, “because these were not registered in the format required as the per the Real Estate (Regulatory and Development) Act and the state Rera rules made thereunder,” said Dilbagh Singh Sihag, executive director, HRERA.

Of the more than 160 complaints received by the HRERA, nearly 80% came through email, lacking in requisite details of the project and also without the submission of requisite fee.

Even the 12 complaints accepted by the authority “have minor discrepancies and we have asked the complainants to rectify the same,” said JC Manjhu, district attorney, HRERA.

In some cases where the complainant has already approached another court or whose case is pending in a consumer forum, Manjhu said, “We have asked them to either withdraw their complaint from other court before we can accept the complaint or withdraw from the complaint from the authority. A complaint can’t be filed in two different jurisdictions at the same time.”

POSSESSION DELAYS

Most of the complaints received by the authority are against builders not delivering possession on time.

“Nearly 80% of the complaints are for possession delays. Other complaints include builders violating the conditions of the sale agreements, layout plans, selling common areas for exclusive use, builders overcharging buyers and one-sided sale agreements,” said Manjhu.

Haryana cities located in the national capital region – Gurugram and Sonepat, are the sources of majority of the complaints with, “nearly 99% of the complaints made so far coming from these two locations,” said Manjhu.

CORRECT FORMAT

The RERA Act and state RERA rules stipulate that any aggrieved person can file a complaint with the authority for any violation of the provisions of the Act.

The correct format is prescribed in the state RERA rules and comprises a form (mentioned in annexures of the state rules) along with a fee of Rs 1,000 in the form of a demand draft or a bankers cheque drawn on a scheduled bank in favour of the authority. The complaint can be made only against a builder and project registered with the authority.

AUTHORITY TAKES COGNISANCE OF 12 COMPLAINTS FILED IN CORRECT FORMAT