Official: Smaller projects too fall under TNRERA

G Saravanan, adjudicating officer of the Authority, rejected a claim made by AN Builders despite the project not exceeding 500 sqm and the number of apartments not exceeding eight. “The RERA Act provides certain categories of projects as not required to be registered but those projects are within the ambit of the Act of Section 3(2),” Saravanan noted in his order.

Homebuyers SP Arulappa and G Premalatha approached the Authority saying they had booked a flat in a project of AN Builders in 2016 after the latter undertook to complete the construction and hand over possession in six months. The buyers had paid Rs 1.26 crore to the builder. After taking possession of the flat in 2017, the complainants had found deviations and requested the builder to rectify it. But the builder had denied deviations and also sought to dismiss the complaint saying the project was developed in an area of 4,167 sqft which is below 500 sqm with six units and pointed out that the Authority has no jurisdiction. Thereafter, Saravanan ordered the builder to pay Rs 6. 53 lakh to the complainants as compensation.