MahaRERA orders builder to pay stamp duty, registration fees and Rs 5.4 lakh interest

Homebuyer Sethuraman filed a complaint after the builder failed to honor a promise that stamp duty and registration charges would be covered, as stated in the project's allotment letter and deviation report. MahaRERA ruled that the builder could not shift these statutory costs to the buyer after initially disclosing them, and therefore must pay the amounts. The tribunal also determined that the buyer is entitled to interest for the prolonged possession delay, calculating roughly Rs 5.43 lakh based on the plot price and the applicable MCLR plus 2% rate.

The decision noted that the sale agreement was notarised but not registered, violating Section 13(1) of the RERA Act. Furthermore, the builder was directed to establish a society of allottees and fulfill its duties regarding maintenance, corpus funds, and conveyance deeds. Advocates Gauri Gabure and Siddharth Chandrashekhar represented the buyer, while Mahesh Pathak of MahaRERA presided over the hearing.