HRera Issues Notice to Gurgaon Real Estate Agent for Unfair Sales Practices
In a significant move to ensure regulatory compliance, the Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HRera) has issued a show-cause notice to a real estate agent in Gurgaon. The agent is accused of violating Real Estate Regulation and Development Act (RERA) norms by facilitating sales in Puri Diplomatic Residences, Sector 111, Gurgaon, before obtaining official registration.
The complaint was filed by buyers Gaurav Singh Aleria and Usha Devi, who alleged that the agent promised a discounted rate of Rs 19,200 per square foot, along with an additional 5% discount at the time of booking. However, the buyers were later charged Rs 31,783 per square foot, without the promised discount. The buyers also accused the agent of acting arbitrarily, failing to execute the builder-buyer agreement despite repeated requests, and not providing any fresh allotment letter reflecting the discounts.
The complainants raised further concerns regarding the developer charging Goods and Services Tax (GST) without proper clarity and basing the sale consideration on the super area (2440 sq. ft.) instead of the carpet area (1398 sq. ft.), which they claimed was against RERA provisions. HRera’s investigation revealed that the agent facilitated multiple sales prior to official registration on June 14, 2024, in violation of Sections 9 and 10 of the Real Estate Regulation and Development Act, 2016.
The authority found prima facie evidence of unfair trade practices and issued a show-cause notice to the agent under Section 62 of the Act. Puri Constructions Pvt. Ltd., the promoter, contested several claims, stating that the sale was based strictly on carpet area, with all documentation reflecting carpet area pricing. The promoter also clarified that a discount of Rs 24.4 lakh was offered, which was incorporated into the allotment letter, and GST was charged as per applicable tax laws effective from July 1, 2017.
The authority directed Puri Constructions to provide full details of bookings facilitated by the agent, clarify GST computations to the complainants, and furnish proof of GST payments to government departments within 30 days. While HRera declined other reliefs sought by the buyers, including charging based on super area, it underscored the importance of regulatory compliance and transparency in the region’s rapidly expanding real estate market.
This order serves as a warning to agents and developers, reinforcing HRera’s role in safeguarding homebuyers’ interests and ensuring adherence to fair trade practices in Haryana’s property sector. The complaint was disposed of, but the vigilance imposed underscores ongoing efforts to maintain accountability in Gurugram’s booming housing market.
