How should you check construction quality before you buy your dream home?

Recently, in Gurugram’s Chintal Paradise Society, part of the building collapsed, resulting in the death of two people. Following this, a structural audit found some towers to be unsafe for occupancy. To ensure your hard-earned money doesn’t get stuck, it’s essential to inspect construction quality before buying a house. Before booking a house or flat, if you do a little research, you can avoid troubles. Before booking, you should visit the project site and gather information about concrete and brickwork. You can also seek a construction quality certificate from the structural engineer present there.

Homebuyers can visit the builder’s previous projects. Are the residents satisfied with the construction quality there? This is the easiest due dilligence you can do as a buyer.

You can ask the developer to show compliance certificates and occupancy certificates issued by the local authority. These certificates indicate that the project is in compliance with current building bye-laws and other regulations.

When considering a property, pay attention to finishing, kitchen-bathroom fittings, tiles, and other things that seem faulty. Include these in a defect list. You can get these issues fixed by informing the developer.
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You can seek the assistance of a structural engineer to assess construction quality. They will examine building layout, design, and building materials to evaluate construction quality.
When buying an older house, be sure to have its strength checked by a structural engineer.

The Real Estate Regulatory Act, known as RERA, has helped in promoting essential improvements in construction quality. The amenities promised by the builder should be mentioned in the builder-buyer agreement so that you can hold the builder accountable for failing to meet their commitments.

“Under Section 14(3) of the RERA law, it is stated that if any structural defect, i.e., a flaw related to construction, workmanship, quality, or service, arises within 5 years, the builder is obligated to rectify it”. Within 30 days, without any charges, the builder must fix these issues. If the defects persist beyond the specified time, homebuyers have the right to compensation.

If a promoter or real estate agent violates the provisions of the Real Estate Regulation Act, the complaint can be filed with respective state’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority. RERA Homebuyers can also file complaints against builders for poor construction quality in consumer courts, in addition to RERA.

How can complaints be filed under RERA? Homebuyers can file complaints both online and offline. On the Uttar Pradesh RERA website, you can file an online complaint in the Complaint section, while Form-M can be submitted at the RERA office. A fee of 1,000 rupees, or charges, is applicable.

If you have complaints about the construction quality of your building. Start by complaining to the builder. If the builder doesn’t address your concerns, you can file a complaint with RERA.

RERA can issue orders for builder to repair your home and also provide compensation.