Homebuyers Left Waiting as Project Delays Stretch Beyond Promised Timeline
Builder Guide News Desk
Homebuyers Left Waiting as Project Delays Stretch Beyond Promised Timeline
Mangaluru:
Several homebuyers in Mangaluru and nearby areas are facing growing frustration as under-construction residential projects continue to face indefinite delays, despite developers having collected almost the entire payment.
Many buyers, who invested their hard-earned savings and bank loans into these projects, say the prolonged construction delays have left them paying both house rent and EMIs simultaneously, pushing them into financial distress.
According to the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), builders are legally bound to complete and hand over possession of apartments within the time specified in their RERA-registered agreements. In case of delay, Section 18 of the Act gives homebuyers the right to seek either a refund with interest or compensation for the delayed possession.
However, despite these legal protections, several developers continue to postpone completion dates, citing reasons such as material shortages, environmental clearances, or labor unavailability — explanations that buyers claim are often unverified or exaggerated.
“We booked our flats in good faith, believing the builder’s promises. It’s been more than three years since the possession date, and there’s no clear update. We’re left helpless,” said one aggrieved buyer who preferred not to be named.
Legal experts suggest that affected buyers should first send a formal legal notice to the developer and, if unresolved, file a complaint with the State RERA Authority. Buyers may also approach the Consumer Commission to claim damages for financial and mental hardship.
Industry observers say that timely enforcement by RERA authorities and stricter monitoring of project progress are essential to protect consumer interests and restore faith in the real estate sector.
Meanwhile, homebuyers continue to hope that their long-awaited dream homes will soon become a reality — not just a promise written in an agreement
