Looking to buy a new apartment in Kochi? Approach any of the apartment owners’ association here instead of builders and they may help you buy one.
In view of the rising number of fraud cases over residential projects, the association of apartment owners in the city is floating a cell to assist the prospective flat buyers in Kochi. “Apart from providing consultancy services to the new buyers, the body will also provide legal aid to the existing apartment owners in fraud cases against the builders,” said V.K. Sankarankutty, the president of All Kerala Apartment Owners’ Apex Association, an umbrella organisation of the flat residents’ association in Kochi.
According to him, the core objectives of the cell will be to educate the investors regarding their rights, facilities and services offered to them and also about the credentials of the project developer. “We have already begun reaching out to the various flat residents’ associations in the district , requesting them to direct any inquiries with regard to violation of service agreements from the builder towards us,” said Mr. Sankarankutty.
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The association is in the process of identifying problems faced by various flat residents in the city and plans to submit a detailed plan of action with regard to waste treatment and related facilities for the consideration of Urban Affairs Minister .
The organisation has also urged the government to simplify the procedure for registration under Kerala Apartment Ownership Act, 1983 and include penal provision against those builders who delay construction or violate building rules etc. Further, it also called for making it mandatory for builders to provide a minimum of 10 years’ warranty for construction.