Thiruvananthapuram: Authority for real estate registration from April 1

Thiruvananthapuram: Even as a central law to regulate real estate developers is to be passed by Parliament, the state seems to be going a step ahead with the Kerala Real Estate Regulatory Authority commencing registration of buildings from April 1 so that it could look into the grievances of consumers in due course. The authority was constituted on the basis of the Kerala Real Estate (Development and Regulation) Ordinance introduced last year. It was passed in the last session of the Assembly recently.

“Though one more member of the authority was yet to be named, we are commencing registration from April 1 so that buildings for which permits are obtained from April will come under the purview of the authority,” said authority chairman S. Ajayakumar, who was a former chief town planner.

It may take more time for the authority to take up complaints as only one of two members of the authority was appointed yet, apart from the chairman. Moreover, the appellate authority headed by a sitting or retired High Court judge and two other members have to be constituted.

Mr. Ajayakumar said that the Kerala Real Estate (Development and Regulation) Act was drafted on the lines of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill passed by the Rajya Sabha and hence there won’t be much conflicts.

“Almost all provisions, including penal, in the state Act were drafted considering the central Act that was published much earlier. Hence the chances of any conflicts was very remote,” he said.

However, the Central law provides for wider coverage, which the state may adopt in due course. “While the state Act only brings projects with 1,000 square metres or 12 units under its purview, the central law covers even projects with 500 square metres or eight units,” he pointed out.