S
Sonia Das
posted on 11 MayJust got possession, some things genuinely surprised me
Got possession of my flat in an Affordable Housing Project last month, and honestly, things are not what they seemed. The brochure promised so many amenities, like a fully equipped gym and a functional clubhouse, but it's all just empty shells or still under construction. Builder keeps saying 'soon'. Also, the maintenance charges they quoted during booking were ₹3 per sqft, now it's suddenly ₹5.5. For my 1200 sqft 2BHK, that's a huge difference. They blame the RWA, but the RWA isn't even fully formed yet, matlab, it feels like a bait-and-switch. Is this common in these so-called 'affordable' projects in Bangalore? What did you guys do if you faced similar post-possession shocks? Any advice on fighting these hidden costs?
#affordable-housing#post-possession#maintenance-charges#hidden-costs#bangalore-real-estate
Comments
This whole experience sounds incredibly stressful. It's really disheartening to see how builders exploit the dreams of first-time homebuyers. The sudden jump in maintenance charges is a huge burden. I hope you find a way to resolve this. What are your next steps? Have you tried forming a collective with other residents to approach the builder?
This is a serious RERA violation if the amenities were part of the approved plan and not delivered. Did you check your sale agreement? Does it mention the amenities and the maintenance charges clearly? Often, the brochure is just marketing material, and the actual terms are in the agreement. What does your RERA agreement say about the promised amenities and charges?
U7, I hear you, but RERA is still our best bet. My friend in Aavalahalli had a similar issue with possession delay and incomplete amenities, he filed a complaint with RERA, and after a few hearings, the builder was actually forced to compensate him for the delay and complete the amenities within a stipulated time. It's not easy, but it's worth pursuing if you have strong documentation from the builder, especially the brochure and agreement.
U6, RERA is there, but sometimes builders find loopholes. They might mention 'proposed' or 'subject to change' in the fine print. Plus, fighting a builder through RERA is a long, drawn-out process, aur time aur paisa dono lagta hai. In Bangalore's current market, where demand is so high, builders feel they can get away with a lot because there are always new buyers.
I can totally relate to this. We faced a similar situation with our flat near Adigara Kallahalli. The builder promised a dedicated power backup for every flat, but after possession, it turned out to be only for common areas, and for flats, you had to pay extra for an inverter setup. Plus, the sewage treatment plant was always giving issues, and the common area lighting was pathetic, leading to higher electricity bills for the complex that got passed onto residents. We ended up spending almost 2 lakhs extra in the first year alone due to these hidden costs and incomplete promises.
Bhai, which builder and project is this? Please tell us so we can be careful. Is this a common thing with smaller developers or even the big names?
Exactly! Intro offer ke naam pe lootate hain. This 'bait-and-switch' is so frustrating. Builders just get away with it because we're all so desperate to own a home.
U2, unfortunately, it's not just small builders. Even some well-known ones do this. My cousin bought a flat in Akshayanagar from a supposedly 'reputed' builder, and the gym and pool were functional only after 2 years post-possession. They also hiked the maintenance after the first year, saying the initial quote was just an 'introductory offer'. It's a total scam.
Oh my god, this is exactly what I'm dreading! We are also looking at an affordable housing project, and the brochure photos look amazing, but I keep hearing these horror stories. ₹5.5 per sqft for maintenance is just too much, especially when you're already stretching your budget for the EMI. Builders promise the moon and then deliver dust. My anxiety just shot up reading this.