The Real Estate Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 10th March, 2016 and the Lok Sabha on 15th March, 2016. The Bill as passed by the Parliament was assented to by the Hon’ble President on 25th March, 2016. The Act as assented to by the Hon’ble President was published in the Official Gazette on 26th March, 2016 for public information.
The Real Estate Act is intended to achieve the following objectives:
ensure accountability towards allottees and protect their interest;
(a) ensure accountability towards allottees and protect their interest;
(b) infuse transparency, ensure fair-play and reduce frauds & delays;
(c) introduce professionalism and pan India standardization;
(d) establish symmetry of information between the promoter and allottee;
(e) imposing certain responsibilities on both promoter and allottees;
(f) establish regulatory oversight mechanism to enforce contracts;
(g) establish fast- track dispute resolution mechanism;
(h) promote good governance in the sector which in turn would create investor confidence.
As per the Explanation to section 2(zk) “where the person who constructs or converts a building into apartments or develops a plot for sale and the persons who sells apartments or plots are different persons, both of them shall be deemed to be the promoters and shall be jointly liable as such for the functions and responsibilities specified, under this Act or the rules and regulations made thereunder”.
As per the Explanation to section 2(za) the rate of interest payable by either the promoter or the allottee shall be the same. The rate of interest is required to be specified by the appropriate Government in the Rules.
As per section 2(d) an allottee includes a person who acquires the said ‘apartment / plot’ through transfer or sale, but does not include a person to whom such plot, apartment is given on rent.
Section 2(n) defines ‘common areas’ to include ‘open parking areas’, thus open parking areas cannot be sold to the allottees.
Section 2(zf) and section 2(q) respectively, define ‘occupancy certificate’ and ‘completion certificate’. Occupancy certificate relates to the occupation of the apartment/building, which has provision for civic infrastructure such as water, sanitation and electricity and is habitable. Completion certificate relates to the completion of the entire project certifying that the project has been developed according to the sanctioned plan, layout plan and specifications, as approved by the competent authority.
Section 2(v) defines ‘estimated cost of the real estate project’, which means “the total cost involved in developing the real estate project and includes the land cost, taxes, cess, development and other charges”. The determination of the estimated cost of the real estate project is necessary due to Chapter VIII of the Act, which provides that penalties would be imposed on the promoter, for violations prescribed under the Act, based on the estimated cost of the real estate project.
Section 2(y) defines the term ‘garage’, which can be sold to the allottee independent of the ‘apartment’.
The Act covers both residential and commercial real estate. Section 2(e) defines ‘apartment’ and section 2(j) defines ‘building’ which include both residential and commercial real estate.
The promoter is required to make an application as per Form and fees prescribed by the Rules made by the appropriate Government, along with the documents / information and undertaking specified in section 4 to the Authority for registration of the project. In addition, the promoter is also required to append other / additional documents / information as specified in the Rules.
As per section 4, the validity of the registration granted to a project shall be the period declared by the promoter under section 4(2)(l)(C), at the time of making the application for registration, within which he would complete the project.
As per section 4(2)(l)(D) first and second proviso, the promoter is required to withdraw the amounts from the separate account, to cover the cost of the project, in proportion to the percentage of completion of the project. In addition, the promoter is permitted to withdraw from the separate account after it is certified by an engineer, an architect and a chartered accountant in practice that the withdrawal is in proportion to the percentage of completion of the project:
The terms and conditions, the application form and the fees payable for extension of registration shall be in the manner as prescribed by the Rules.
Section 9 of the Act provides that real estate agents which engage in selling projects registered under the Act, can only do so after registering themselves with the Authority. The mechanisms for registration, the fees payable, the period of registration, subsequent renewal etc. are matters to be detailed vide the Rules.
Section 10 of the Act provides for detailed functions and duties of real estate agents.
As per section 14 of the Act the promoter can only modify / amend the sanctioned plans or project specifications, after the approval of the competent authority and its disclosure to the allottees, in case of minor additions or alterations.
However, in case of major modification / alteration, the promoter can modify the sanctioned plans or project specification only after having taken approval from two-third of the allottees. In addition, for arriving at the number of two-third allottees, the number of apartments held by the promoter will be excluded. Also, irrespective of the number of apartments held by an allottee he/she shall only be entitled to one vote.
As per section 15 the promoter is not entitled to transfer or assign his majority rights and liabilities in the project to a third party, without obtaining the prior written consent of two-third of allottees and the Regulatory Authority.
In addition, for arriving at the number of two-third allottees, the number of apartments held by the promoter will be excluded. Also, irrespective of the number of apartments held by an allottee he/she shall only be entitled to one vote.
As per section 16 the promoter is required to seek an insurance of the real estate project towards title of the land and towards construction of the project.
However, the said section provides that this provision shall only come into effect after and in the manner as may be notified by the appropriate Government.
Section 19 provides for the various rights of the allottees. This section specifies various rights which the allottees have against the promoters including those which the promoters are liable to fulfill based on the agreement entered into with the allottees, namely – stage-wise schedule of completion of the project and the services, claim timely possession of the apartment / plot, entitlement to necessary documents and plans etc.
Section 20 provides for the various duties of the allottees, which provide for matters relating to payment regarding the apartment / plot, liability towards interest for delay i
As per section 43 of the Act, the Appellate Tribunal is required to be established within 1 year of of the commencement of section 43. As section 43 has been notified with effect from 1st May, 2016, the Appellate Tribunal is required to be established
However, for speedy implementation of the Act, section 43 empowers the ‘appropriate Government’ to designate an existing Appellate Tribunal (under any other law in force) to function as an Appellate Tribunal under the Act.
As per section 59, where under the Act, it is obligatory for the promoter to register a project with the Authority, and the promoter fails to do the same, he shall be liable to a penalty upto ten percent of the estimated cost of the real estate project.
However, in case the promoter consistently defaults or does not comply with the directions / orders of the Authority as regards registration of the project with the Authority, he shall be liable to additional fine of ten percent of the estimated cost of the real estate project or imprisonment upto 3 years or both.
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