Hyderabad: The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA), 2016, mandates that builders are responsible for rectifying structural defects within five years of handing over possession; but how many home buyers in Hyderabad are aware of this? Hardly any.
Even those, who are aware about this, often face challenges in getting the builder to carry out necessary repairs. In the last six months, 15 cases have been registered against builders who failed to carry out repairs.
Under Section 14(3) of the RERA Act, builders are legally required to rectify structural cracks, water seepage, plumbing defects and other construction-related damages at no extra cost within five years.
The Defect Liability Clause under RERA makes it the builder’s responsibility to fix any structural or workmanship related issues within five years of handing over possession. If a buyer reports such defects, the builder must fix the issue within 30 days of receiving the complaint, without charging the buyer.
If the builder fails to make the repairs, the buyer can approach RERA, which may order compensation or take action against the builder.
This clause covers structural defects like cracks in walls, faulty construction and water leakage, as well as poor workmanship, including defective plumbing, electrical issues and problems with common amenities promised by the builder.
However, certain issues are not covered under the defect liability clause. These include equipment like lifts, generators and gym equipment after the manufacturer’s warranty expires, wear and tear issues such as faded paint and minor cracks, damage caused by poor maintenance by the owner and normal structural changes like minor expansion or contraction due to temperature changes.
“Homebuyers should be aware that under RERA, builders are legally bound to address any construction-related defects within five years of handing over possession. We encourage residents to come forward and file complaints if their builders are not fulfilling this responsibility,” said Srinivas Rao, a member of TG RERA.
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Under Section 14(3) of the RERA Act, builders are legally required to rectify structural cracks, water seepage, plumbing defects and other construction-related damages at no extra cost within five years.
The defect liability clause under RERA makes it the builder’s responsibility to fix structural or workmanship related issues within five years of handing over possession.
The builder must fix the issue within 30 days of receiving the complaint, without charging the buyer.
If the builder fails to make the repairs, the buyer can approach RERA, which may order compensation or take action against the builder.
Clause covers structural defects like cracks in walls, faulty construction and water leakage, poor workmanship, including defective plumbing, electrical issues and problems with common amenities promised by the builder.
