Maha ranks among top states in resolving homebuyers' grievances: Report

25 Dec 2023 CW Team

The report highlighted that real estate authorities across various states and Union Territories collectively resolved 1.16 lakh consumer complaints over the seven-year period ending in November of the current year. Uttar Pradesh's real estate authority took the lead in resolving complaints, handling 38% or 44,602 cases, followed by Haryana (20,604) and Maharashtra (15,423).

According to data from the central government, 32 states and Union Territories have operational real estate regulatory authorities, while Ladakh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Sikkim are yet to establish such bodies to address homebuyers' complaints.

The top three states accounted for nearly 69% of the total complaints resolved under RERA in the country, with Maharashtra registering the highest number of projects under RERA at 36%, followed by Tamil Nadu (16%), Telangana (11%), and Gujarat (7%).

While addressing homebuyers' concerns remains a primary function of real estate authorities under RERA, Anarock chairman Anuj Puri noted that the pace of project and real estate agent registrations has not slowed down in the past two years.

Nationwide, 1.16 lakh projects and 82,755 real estate brokers have been registered under RERA till November 28, 2023, marking a 63% and 47% growth, respectively, over the previous two years.

However, Abhay Upadhyay, President of the Forum of People?s Collective Efforts (FPCE) and a member of the Central Advisory Council (CAC) of RERA, expressed a different perspective, emphasising that merely addressing consumer complaints does not guarantee relief for homebuyers. He highlighted that some builders are not complying with directives/orders issued by RERA authorities, forcing homebuyers to seek resolution through various other platforms, including higher judiciary platforms.

A complainant cited an example where the adjudicating officer's order in their favor has not been implemented by the developer, prompting the developer to consider moving to the high court.

Additionally, the report mentioned that the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) Conciliation Forum, established in March 2018, has settled almost 30% of the disputes it received in the past three years. Of the 4,885 complaints since 2021, the 52 benches of the Conciliation Forum in the state resolved 1,343 disputes amicably, while 876 cases are in the hearing process. The forum, comprising representatives from Credai-Pune Metro, Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, and other promoters' associations, aims to facilitate resolution between parties in dispute, even after filing cases in MahaRERA.

Since the enactment of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act seven years ago, the real estate regulatory authority in Maharashtra has successfully addressed 15,423 consumer complaints, positioning the state among the top three in redressing homebuyers' grievances, as per a report from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The report highlighted that real estate authorities across various states and Union Territories collectively resolved 1.16 lakh consumer complaints over the seven-year period ending in November of the current year. Uttar Pradesh's real estate authority took the lead in resolving complaints, handling 38% or 44,602 cases, followed by Haryana (20,604) and Maharashtra (15,423). According to data from the central government, 32 states and Union Territories have operational real estate regulatory authorities, while Ladakh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Sikkim are yet to establish such bodies to address homebuyers' complaints. The top three states accounted for nearly 69% of the total complaints resolved under RERA in the country, with Maharashtra registering the highest number of projects under RERA at 36%, followed by Tamil Nadu (16%), Telangana (11%), and Gujarat (7%). While addressing homebuyers' concerns remains a primary function of real estate authorities under RERA, Anarock chairman Anuj Puri noted that the pace of project and real estate agent registrations has not slowed down in the past two years. Nationwide, 1.16 lakh projects and 82,755 real estate brokers have been registered under RERA till November 28, 2023, marking a 63% and 47% growth, respectively, over the previous two years. However, Abhay Upadhyay, President of the Forum of People?s Collective Efforts (FPCE) and a member of the Central Advisory Council (CAC) of RERA, expressed a different perspective, emphasising that merely addressing consumer complaints does not guarantee relief for homebuyers. He highlighted that some builders are not complying with directives/orders issued by RERA authorities, forcing homebuyers to seek resolution through various other platforms, including higher judiciary platforms. A complainant cited an example where the adjudicating officer's order in their favor has not been implemented by the developer, prompting the developer to consider moving to the high court. Additionally, the report mentioned that the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) Conciliation Forum, established in March 2018, has settled almost 30% of the disputes it received in the past three years. Of the 4,885 complaints since 2021, the 52 benches of the Conciliation Forum in the state resolved 1,343 disputes amicably, while 876 cases are in the hearing process. The forum, comprising representatives from Credai-Pune Metro, Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, and other promoters' associations, aims to facilitate resolution between parties in dispute, even after filing cases in MahaRERA.