TG RERA Orders Hyderabad Builder to Fix Water Seepage Without Additional Charges

The Telangana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TG RERA) issued orders on May 31, directing a Hyderabad-based builder, Sri Karthikeya Constructions, to resolve water seepage issues in a complainant’s flat without collecting additional fees. The builder’s claims were disputed, and penalties await if orders are ignored under the RERA Act 2016.

Madhusudhan Rao Udutha, the complainant, resides in flat no. 432 of Sri Karthikeya Constructions (SKC) Bliss in Bachupally. He purchased the flat for Rs 46 lakhs with a built-up area of 1,336 sq ft in 2022. Since December 1, 2023, he has noticed water seepage in the master bedroom, washroom, and kitchen areas. Despite notifying the developer multiple times through phone calls and emails, the developer has failed to rectify the issue.

The complainant also alleged that the external walls were to be constructed with a thickness of eight inches, but the builder constructed six-inch-thickness walls, violating the agreed construction standards and compromising the structural integrity and safety of the building.

The complainant sought certain reliefs from the builder, including carrying out necessary repairs at no cost, ensuring compliance with the agreed specifications regarding wall thickness, and making required corrections. Additionally, the complainant requested that a penalty be imposed on the builder for the delay and failure to address the issue, which has caused distress and damage to the property.

The respondents, Sri Karthikeya Constructions, filed a counterclaim against the complainant, stating that all the allegations of external wall seepage are baseless and result from the complainant’s improper usage of washrooms and kitchen sinks. They claimed that the frequent disposal of solid and insoluble waste into the PVC water lines caused blockages and subsequent seepage. The respondent also denied the complaint about the thickness of the walls, stating that the walls were constructed using six-inch bricks with plastering on both sides, ensuring compliance with the specified 8-inch thickness. They claimed that all seepage issues have been promptly resolved.

The complainant refuted these allegations, stating that the builder’s claims are false and defamatory and a tactic to avoid addressing pipeline defects and wall seepage. Regarding wall thickness, the complainant accused the builder of intending to deceive flat owners.

The TG RERA chairperson, N Satyanarayana, and two other RERA members, including K Srinivasa Rao and Laxmi Naryana Jannu, in their orders directed the builder to complete the rectification work relating to the water seepage in the master bedroom, washrooms, and kitchen area of the complainant’s unit within 60 days, without additional charge to the complainant. If the builder ignores the TG RERA authority orders, a penalty will be imposed following section 61 of the RERA Act 2016.