Owners laud approval to apartment Bill

Bhubaneswar: Flat owners and real estate activists have welcomed the move of the state cabinet to approve the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2023 as it will particularly safeguard the rights of homebuyers, among others.The bill, which is likely to be tabled in the state assembly, once implemented will pave the way for the apartment owners to form their associations. It will also bring clarity on the ownership of common areas and facilities in an apartment complex.As per the proposed Bill, common areas and facilities in an apartment will not belong to any individual. If any owner has a claim to any independent area inside the apartment, he or she will have to clearly mention the same in the deed agreement. Besides, any apartment owner is barred from taking up any redevelopment work of his or her apartment if it risks the safety of the building. The redevelopment cannot be taken up without the permission of apartment owners’ associations or authorities appointed by the state government.“We have fought long for implementation of the legislation. From initiating discussion with the government to filing writs in the high court, we have done everything for it. Finally our fight has yielded the desired results,” real estate activist Bimalendu Pradhan said. Pradhan said that implementation of the Act will further allow homeowners to raise grievances relating to their houses with a competent authority to be appointed by the government. Girija Mohapatra, who lives in Netaji Enclave here, said that they faced difficulties dealing with certain issues related to the flat.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.