Condominium properties not registered even after five years

Many Condominium Developers have not registered the Condominium Properties with the Registrar General's Department although five years had elapsed after the construction of the Apartment.

In a recent survey the Condominium Management Authority found that many developers had sold the condominium parcels to the unit owners only on Sale Agreements. Many of them had not even registered these units with the Registrar General's Department which is a statutory requirement.

In many instances the Developers had not issued the deeds to the unit owners. The unit owners undergo untold hardship on account of this serious lapse on the part of these handful developers, said M. M. Abul Kalam, Attorney-at-law, Chairman of the Condominium Management Authority. He said that inquiries have commenced in regard to more than ten Condominium Developers who have so far failed to register their condominiums with the Registrar General's Department.

According to the Apartment Ownership Act and Apartment Ownership (Amendment) Act of 2003 the unit owners who had not obtained their deeds after the sale can complain to the Condominium Management Authority. Furthermore, the Condominium Properties should be registered within 18 months of the sale and also within three months of the construction.

A spokesman for the Condominium Management Authority said that those who violate the Law can be produced before a Magistrate and if found guilty, the Developer has to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000 and in addition Rs. 1,000 should also be paid per day from the day of conviction.

The Condominium Management Authority has decided to take appropriate action soon after the inquiries are concluded by the Legal Department of the CMA, Kalam said.