Builders’ Association of India Chairman says RERA is a dedicated authority

The Builders’ Association of India (BAI) on the Supreme Court’s recent judgement allowing homebuyer for compensation uphelding the consumer court’s order stated that Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) is formed only to resolve real estate related matters. Anand Gupta, Chairperson of housing and RERA committee of BAI said, “RERA has been doing a great job. The RERA act was approved by the Parliament of India in 2016 and from 2017 it was implemented. After 70 years, such authority was formed where builders and homebuyers can seek justice.” RERA was established to expeditiously hear the real estate matters unlike other civil courts that listen to several other matters, he asserted.

Meanwhile, he also stated, “Of course, homebuyers will have an option to approach the various courts of law and with this judgment, now it is clear that consumer court can also pronounce on real estate projects where the possession has been delayed or homebuyer seeking a refund. Though the platform was open earlier too but this judgement now specifically cites that homebuyers can reach consumer forums with their complaints.

Instead of doing so, the SC in its judgement could have directed the parties to approach RERA and if not satisfied then further to appellate tribunal, HC among others, Gupta explained.

The matter is about a Housing Scheme “The ESFERA” in, Gurgaon, launched by the builder (Appellant) sometime in 2011, and all the original complainants — Anil Patni and others booked their respective apartments by paying the booking amounts and thereafter each of them executed Builder Buyer Agreement.

However, even after four years, there were no signs of the project getting completed. In the circumstances, the homebuyer approached the consumer commission that ordered the builder to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation. However, the builder approached SC wherein, it upheld the order to be paid by the appellant in respect of each of the consumer cases, over and above the amounts directed to be made over to the complainants and shall form part of the amount payable by the appellant to the complainants.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/builders-association-of-india-chairman-says-rera-is-a-dedicated-authority

7 Effective ways to have a Healthy Home

1. Make it Clean & Clutter-free
2. Keep it Dry and Moisture-free
3. Keep Pests away from Home
4. Ensure proper Ventilation
5. Take care of Air quality
6. Toxic-free & Safe Living
7. Opt for a Home Inspection

Most of us spend at least half of our lives in our homes without realizing there is a connection between our home and health.

A happy and healthy environment is essential for a healthy lifestyle. When it comes to improving our health, we tend to focus on nutrition and exercise, and we spend less time focusing on how our environment can affect our body. Our home is where we spend a lot of our time, so it is important that we figure out ways to make it healthy.

In order to create a healthy environment, we should start from our homes individually. Everyone’s living space is different, and there are some aspects you cannot control, but you can follow some tips that can help to improve the health of your home.

1. Make it Clean & Clutter-free

Having clutter and uncleanliness has proven to not only make your home dirty, but it can also affect your health. Excessive clutter can aggravate or worsen symptoms associated with various respiratory diseases (eg: asthma). Cluttered home invites rodents, cockroaches, insects and other pests. Pests in the home can cause respiratory illnesses and other health problems. Hence, Cleaning and de-cluttering your home enhances happy & healthy living.

2. Keep it Dry and Moisture-free

Moisture in homes can cause a variety of issues. From problems with personal health to damaging the home itself, water inside elements of building is an issue. Common human health hazards associated with dampness in homes include Upper respiratory issues, Asthma, Cough, Wheeze, Allergies, Skin Diseases, Migraine – Headaches & Depression. Structural integrity of your home gets weakened due to moisture intrusion. It is important that you stop leaks, control seepage, and maintain balanced humidity inside your house.

3. Keep Pests away from Home

Pests come to your home for 3 main reasons – food, water, and warmth. Seal cracks and openings (gap around window, door frame and pipes) throughout the home; keep kitchen and other areas of home clean, store food properly.

4. Ensure proper Ventilation

Home ventilation is an important factor related to the occupants’ health. Poor Ventilation increase the risk of airborne diseases, causes allergies, nausea and can also lead to serious health issues like eczema, nervous system damage, and cancer. Poor ventilation has been associated with “sick” homes for a long time, mainly referring to the damage caused by mould growth and other related problems to the building components. Therefore, ventilation is very important for your home.

5. Take care of Air quality

Common household cleaning products contain chemicals like alcohol, ammonia, chlorine and other solvents that must not be touched or inhaled. These have negative effects on our health that can cause irritable eyes, sore throats, and even headaches. These cleaning products release dangerous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that not only give you common health issues but also aggravate allergies, asthma, and chronic respiratory issues.

Although we depend much on these cleaning products, however, we must use organic products as a safe option to go by. Using organic cleaners around the house will help the air quality immensely. The more we use less toxic products to clean our homes and indoors, the better it is for our health.

6. Toxic-free & Safe living

Store pesticides and other chemicals like leftover paint & oil, disinfectants (if you are having) in locked cabinets out of children’s reach. Keep all chemicals in their original, labelled containers – do not put them into another bottle or container. It is always important to keep it out of reach of children and pets1.

7. Opt for a Home Inspection

Home inspection – Health & Safety Check-up ensures everything in the house is functioning properly; it identifies hidden issues & areas that need repair. Take care of minor repairs and issues at the right time before they become a large problem.

Cracks, seepage, clogged drains and blockage in pipes are some of the common household problems that we face in our houses with time. Inspection is a significant way to become aware of the areas of the house that can act as a hazard or create problems in the future and also suggest solutions for specific issues. Home inspection is an essential part that ensures a healthy home for your family.

Home inspection is an important part not only during the purchase of a property but also with time when your home starts ageing. Maintenance of a home is as significant as maintaining other essential assets in order to attain a healthy home.

Home inspection is a health and safety check-up of home. Watch the video to understand it better.

Final words

Home is one of the most valuable investment of our life where we spend our maximum time. So your home is a key asset for you. Everyone needs a healthy home. Making your home healthier and safer in preparation for your living has to be a great responsibility. A healthy home can help you & your family have a healthy body. We hope that these tips will make your home a healthy one!

Reference links used:
1. https://sanitizeyourplace.in/basics-of-handling-cleaner-sanitizer-disinfectant/

Know how dampness can affect wellbeing and home with its ultimate solution

Dampness in home not only spoil the look of your home but also affects the health of residents and structure. Learn through this detailed video about signs, reasons, effects on house & health hazards related to dampness and its ultimate solution.

Haryana RERA penalises several realtors for malpractices

Chandigarh

Acting tough, the Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority has penalised several colonisers for indulging in malpractices.

The RERA bench, headed by its Chairman K.K. Khandelwal and member S.C. Kush, on Tuesday took action against the promoters of various companies in the wake of complaints by allottees.

In proceedings against CHD Developers, Ireo Private Ltd, Landmark Apartments Private Ltd, Siddhartha Buildhome Private Ltd, Vatika Ltd, Tashee Land Developers Private Ltd and Tulsiani Constructions and Developers Private Ltd, it ordered attachment of the bank accounts to the extent of Rs 7 crore along with the movable properties of their directors.

An order has been given to issue a bailable warrant against the directors of Prime Time Infra Projects Private Ltd for not complying with the orders of the authority.

During the hearing pertaining to execution petitions, the authority observed that Clarion Properties Ltd has committed a gross violation of Section 3 of the Act by not registering its project with the authority.

It directed to issue a show-cause notice against the developer for non-registration of project under Section 59, which states that “the promoter shall be liable to a penalty up to 10 per cent of the estimated cost of the real estate project” and if the promoter continues to violate the provisions of Section 3, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term up to three years or with fine further up to 10 per cent of the estimated cost of real estate project, or with both.

Stringent action has been taken against the promoter in the complaints against Supertech Ltd, with the authority ordering it to pay Rs 5 crore to the allottee for delay in handing over of possession by the promoter.

A hefty cost of Rs 130,000 was imposed on Supertech Ltd for not filing reply within the stipulated time and the fine has been paid, which will be disbursed to the allottees.

Khandelwal, in a statement, said that such actions against the defaulting promoters would not only help providing an environment of growth and development of the real estate sector but would also assist the allottees in gaining and preserving their trust in the authority for quick redressal.

Source: https://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/regulatory/haryana-rera-penalises-several-realtors-for-malpractices/78914563

8 Moisture Warning Signals in Your Home

Prevention is better than Cure

1. Dark Patches
2. Peeling off or other paint deterioration
3. Damp and Musty Odour
4. Visible water stains or Discolouration
5. Gatherings of Pests
6. Visual leaks
7. Condition of wooden furniture
8. Health Symptoms

Homes are supposed to protect us from the harmful things from outside like water, wind, and extreme temperatures. But sometimes, however, our homes fail to serve its purpose and moisture enters into our house.

As a homeowner, moisture is one of the most common and annoying problems you can face. Moisture / Dampness in buildings is a major factor that contributes to mould growth, unhealthy buildings, and poor indoor air quality. Moisture is one of the most important agents of building deterioration.

Moisture Intrusion is an often-unseen problem lurking in many homes. A little excess water in the wrong place can cause many other problems, such as mould growth, pest infestations, weakened building structures and unhealthy living conditions.

In many cases, moisture problems in houses or buildings are easy to get missed until they have progressed to the point of despair.

“Prevention is better than cure”. Early detection of these problems is significant for minimizing the extent and cost of the damage. But, how can you identify a moisture problem at the earliest?

Let us go through warning signs of moisture that homeowners should be on the lookout for:

1. Dark Patches in Home Elements

One of the most common signs of water-related problems in any structure is the appearance of dark patches in walls, ceilings, and other surfaces. As water seeps into building materials, it tends to cause them to look visibly dark.

Homeowners can often find these dark patches in ceilings after a heavy storm which indicates source of moisture can be in roof or sometimes due to floor / unit above if there is a leaky pipe there.

2. Peeling off or other paint deterioration on the surface finish

High humidity levels can cause wallpaper or paint finish to peel from the wall. Too much moisture behind the walls can eventually cause paint and wallpaper to start peeling or bubbling. If you see wallpaper or paint peeling or even protruding out like a bubble, it could indicate a moisture problem. Sometimes airborne moisture vapour gets behind the wallpaper and mixes with the glue, causing it to peel. Peeling off paint is mainly caused by moisture on the surface, poor surface preparation, using an incorrect painting method. Other paint deterioration like cracking or blistering paint on exterior or interior finishes can also happen due to these reasons.

3. Damp and Musty Odour

One of the most common signs of a moisture problem is the presence of strong, musty odour. This sign is a strong indicator that there is water damage somewhere nearby – possibly in the building materials hidden from your direct view. If you have a persistent, musty, damp smell in your bathroom, even after repeated cleanings, you may have moisture-related problem in the walls and subfloor. If a proper ventilation system does not help, you probably have a moisture build-up below the surface of walls or the floor. This odour is often caused by bacteria and mould growth that feeds on the excess moisture in a dark, cool space.

4. Visible Water Stains or Discolouration

A water stain will form a dark yellowish colour on your ceiling in a slightly deformed shape. This yellowish colour will soon turn into brown colour, and in fact, it may even start off sometimes as brown colour right at the beginning. It can be the symptom of a much larger problem and this is something that you should look into immediately. Some common causes of Water Stains on Ceilings are leaking pipes, leakage from roof and water seeping from upper unit / floor areas.

Stains or Discolouration can be prevented by reducing the accumulation of moisture in the wall / ceiling. Yellow, brown or black stains etc on your walls are signs of water damage from behind them.

5. Gatherings of Pests

Water is a necessity for life – and pests like ants, cockroaches, rodents, termites are no exception. As the humidity rises in your home, pests such as these will migrate inside your home, where they will begin to reproduce. A sudden increase in the presence of pests could be an indirect indication that there is a suitable source of water in your home. Of course, other nutrient sources, such as open food containers, exposed trash bins, and the like can also attract pests.

6. Visual leaks

Water is the enemy of every home. Being a homeowner, if you find unwanted water in your home, you should make every effort to find the root cause as quickly as possible. You need to do periodical visual checks of moisture / leakage / seepage in the home and get them repaired. Some leaks can be easily found by visual checking whereas, some leaks are concealed inside wall / structure.

7. Check the condition of wooden furniture

Damaged wood is a classic sign of elevated moisture levels. Because wood is porous, it absorbs moisture from the affected area as well as from the air as humidity levels change. This will cause the wood to swell and shrink with the changes. Check the integrity of wood by lightly pressing it. If it is soft, you know it has weakened from moisture damage.

8. Health Symptoms

One of the most annoying problems of moisture is its effect on our health. Common human health hazards associated with moisture / dampness in home include: respiratory (nasal and throat) symptoms, Asthma symptoms in sensitized persons with asthma, Cough, Wheeze, Allergies, Skin Diseases etc. People often ignore these important visual signs of moisture, but it can be harmful for your health.

Understanding and Detecting the Moisture Problem

If you have spotted one of the signs above, then it is important to understand about moisture problem and know the actual source of it. For that, you need professional help who will use moisture meter1 and advanced thermal imaging technology which can detect hidden / concealed leaks in the structure and give you long term – least destructive – low cost solutions.

If you feel your home has a moisture problem, you should take immediate action to solve it. Ignoring these signs will only make the problem progressively worse.

Apart from this, it is advisable to get a moisture / damp inspection before spending on costly waterproofing treatment or other related repair works.

Reference links used:
1. https://www.delmhorst.com/blog/moisture-meter-locate-leaks

Damp/ Seepage inspection of a premium restaurant done at midnight to suite customer requirement

Water dripping problem was occurring at a food court/ restaurant in one of luxurious mall in Kolkata. It was running from morning to late evening. As per requirement of Customer, we had done inspection at midnight. Watch the video to know our observation and solution to their problem.

No new projects if old ones pending: Haryana-Rera

The Gurugram bench of Haryana Rera on Friday issued a notice to blacklist and debar a real estate company, Empire Realtech, and its promoter CHD Developers from launching any new project till ongoing ones are completed. It’s the first time the regulator has taken such a tough measure as delays in delivery of homes have turned into a chronic problem both in the city and other parts of NCR’s struggling but massive real estate sector.

CHD Developers had launched a housing project under Empire Realtech in 2011 – 106, Golf Avenue in Sector 106 – with a promise to offer possession by December 2016. The homes have, however, not been delivered yet. The promoter intimated the revised date for completion to H-Rera as June 30, 2021 at the time of registration in 2016. “But keeping in view the present situation of funds and stage of construction, there is every likelihood of further delay of the project,” observed the bench comprising chairman KK Khandelwal and members SC Kush and Samir Kumar while deciding to issue a notice asking why the company should not be blacklisted and debarred from launching new projects till it completes existing ones.

“The quarterly progress reports have not been submitted by the developers (as required under Rera rules) either,” Khandelwal said. The notice asks why penal proceedings should not be initiated and a penalty that may be up to 5% (Rs 28 crore) of the project cost should not be imposed. “The promoter has been asked to submit a mitigation plan for completion of the project within a month in consultation with the association of allottees. The authority has also given an option to the association of allottees on taking over the project for its completion,” Khandelwal added.

There are 642 units in the project, of which 600 have been sold. Nearly Rs 500 crore has been collected from homebuyers. The promoter has also taken a loan of Rs 150 crore, of which Rs 36 crore is outstanding. The bench said since the promoter had not opened a separate Rera account for the project, instalments paid by homebuyers were received in the bank’s escrow account, and the money deposited in the account was taken away by the lender against the loan. Consequently, there were no funds left for construction.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/h-rera-serves-first-debarment-notice-toughens-stance-on-housing-delays/articleshow/78836639.cms

Why Ventilation is important for your home?

  • Why ventilation is important for your home?
    1. Helps in controlling moisture
    2. Health of you and your family
    3. Improves Air Quality
    4. Increases Comfort level
    5. Better Air Regulation
    6. Reduces Temperature
  • Some Considerations for good ventilation
  • Ventilation tips for better indoor Air

Ventilation is essential for home comfort. Proper ventilation prevents air pollutants from affecting the health of family and home. Without proper ventilation, a home or building can become a house of static air, where bacteria and carbon build-up, making the indoor air unsafe for the inhabitants. Like we do breathing exercises to have good health, similarly, buildings too need to breathe well.

In general terms, Ventilation is a process of replacing still & stagnant air with fresh air. A well-ventilated house is one that ensures sufficient air and sunlight infiltration into the house.

Read the content to understand: Why ventilation is important for your home?

1. Helps in controlling moisture

Ventilation is very important because it controls how much moisture is persisting in the home. If one has adequate airflow throughout home; walls, floors, and all the wood in the home will stay dry and not collect moisture. Wood can decay when exposed to moisture. If one lets moisture build up in these areas of the home, they will not only destroy the structural integrity, but they will also cause mold/ termite buildup or other moisture-related problem.

2. Health of you and your family

Proper ventilation protects you & your family from unpleasant odours and irritating pollutants. Poor Ventilation increase the risk of airborne diseases, causes allergies, nausea and can also leads to serious health issues like eczema, nervous system damage, and cancer. It causes sick building syndrome. Ventilation prevents the growth of fungus and molds in your home and hence keeps you protected from allergies and breathing issues. To know and understand the health effects, read Poor Ventilation and the health consequences that come with it1.

3. Improves Air Quality

If the air inside the house does not move outside, the pollutants such as chemical gases and germs would affect the air quality and cause harm. Ventilation helps expel the pollutants stored inside along with the bacteria, moisture and odour. It controls indoor humidity and airborne contaminants, both of which either contribute to or act as health hazards. Also, it helps in removing volatile organic compounds in house paint, air fresheners, cleaning products. Hence, proper ventilation helps in improving indoor air quality and ensure a healthy living.

4. Increases Comfort level

Ventilation controls the humidity level and allows you to breathe easier. When the room is filled with fresh & clean air, the airborne contaminants are eliminated. Moreover, sufficient inflow of air cools the room in the best way and this makes indoor ambiance better. All these add to the increase in the comfort level.

5. Better Air Regulation

A well-ventilated home has lower energy bills, and this is the reason why people prefer to live in a place that provides natural ventilation. It lowers the home’s humidity reduces the pressure on the air conditioner and also extends its life span.

6. Reduce Temperature

Sometimes when lot of people live in a small home, space becomes hot making the environment unbearable. A proper ventilation system reduces the temperature and makes a home comfortable and relaxed for everyone.

Some Considerations for good ventilation

In order to achieve good natural ventilation in a home, below considerations can be followed:

  • Outlet openings should be just opposite to inlets to ensure better cross-ventilation.
  • More height of the room gives better ventilation.
  • Inlet openings should be located on the windward side and at low level so that all parts of the room are uniformly ventilated2. Outlet opening should be located on lee ward side(side facing away from the wind) near the ceiling in the side walls. It is nowadays less common in homes.

Ventilation tips for better Indoor Air

  • Use of exhaust fans: Exhaust fans draw air from a particular location and vent it to the outside. Both Kitchens and bathrooms should have an exhaust fan. Bathroom and kitchen fans are a significant part of your home’s ventilation system. They remove odours from your house, which improves indoor air quality. They also remove moisture, which decreases the level of humidity in your house.
  • Natural ventilation: Most common method of natural ventilation3 is opening windows and doors. When outdoor air is cooler and drier than your indoor air, by all means, open the windows and let that fresh air flow through.
  • Clean air: If exhaust fans and natural ventilation cannot serve the purpose, you can opt for a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity in your home.

Final Words

Improper ventilation in homes can lead to illnesses and discomfort as well as cause damage due to poor moisture & temperature control.

Whether you are living in a home, fresh air is essential to survive. If you are searching for a new home to move in, check if it has good ventilation. It is very essential for health, efficiency and hygienic conditions. Hence while planning your home it should be ensured that each area/ room is properly ventilated.

Proper home ventilation is essential for the health of the residents and the structure. It controls the build-up of indoor air pollutants and moisture. Therefore, it is utmost important to keep the house adequately ventilated.

Reference links used:
1. https://www.chayaseattle.org/2019/01/22/poor-ventilation-and-the-health-consequences-that-comes-with-it/
2. https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S03/is.3362.1977.pdf
3. https://happho.com/natural-ventilation-methods-house-constructions/

Get a proper check up of your home

As Home is one of the biggest investment of your life. It is important to maintain the health and safety of your home for you & your family. So, it is better to get proper check up of your home same as our body. For this problem, Home inspection is the best solution.

Ladakh notifies RERA rules, ushers in new era in real estate development in UT

Ladakh has become the 34th union territory to have notified the rules under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act leading the way for property development to take place in the region.

“Extremely happy to share that Ladakh becomes the 34th State/UT, which has notified Rules under RERA. It was done on 8 October 2020. It paves the way for implementation of this transformative legislation in the Union Territory, opening new vistas of real estate development journey,” secretary, ministry of housing and urban affairs, Durga Shanker Mishra tweeted.

In August, the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir had notified the rules under RERA becoming the 33rd state/union territory to do the same.

“The move will open up new vistas for the development of the union territory J & K by ensuring efficient & transparent transactions. It will also ensure timely delivery & quality construction of real estate projects,” Mishra had tweeted then.

According to statistics provided by the MoHUA more than 52,000 real estate projects and 40,517 real estate agents have registered under RERA across the country. Nearly 50,000 complaints have been disposed-off by the Real Estate Regulatory Authorities across the country.

Out of this, nearly 57 percent cases or approximately 27,581 complaints were resolved in the last one year alone.

Uttar Pradesh takes the lead with as many as 18,509 cases disposed off by the UP RERA authorities so far, against a mere 5,989 cases a year ago.

Haryana is at a distant second with nearly 9,919 cases disposed of currently as against 3,123 cases in the corresponding period of 2019. Maharashtra’s MahaRERA has so far disposed of nearly 7,883 cases, an analysis by Anarock property consultants has said.

Project registrations have seen a 24 percent annual jump – from 43,208 projects as on July-end 2019 to nearly 53,364 projects presently, the analysis said.

The states with maximum project registrations currently include Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.

Following the coronavirus pandemic over 23 states RERA Authorities have so far extended registration of projects by six months and one by nine months following the situation created by the coronavirus pandemic and this has been done to safeguard the interests of homebuyers.

Source: https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/real-estate/ladakh-notifies-rera-rules-ushers-in-new-era-in-real-estate-development-in-ut-5952301.html