BENGALURU: Despite consistent reminders from home buyers and residents’ welfare associations regarding the need for a new apartment act, the state government has yet to prepare the crucial draft, even after two years. Home buyers are urging Karnataka to update the Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act of 1972, which they view as outdated and ambiguous regarding the rights and responsibilities of flat owners.
Dhananjaya Padmanabhachar, representative of the Karnataka Home Buyers Forum, reached out to IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge, urging him to encourage Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to expedite the development of a new apartment act. The goal is to place all apartment owners’ associations under competent government authority for improved governance.
“There are media reports indicating that the Karnataka Government is working on a new apartment act to regulate associations, yet no gazette notification has been issued in two years. Recently, we observed you advising cultural bodies to register with the relevant authority.
We request you to communicate with the Hon’ble Chief Minister to expedite the enactment of the new apartment act and oversee all apartment associations for improved governance. This will greatly benefit all flat residents in Karnataka,” the letter stated.
Vani Kishore, a home buyer, directly appealed to the government, expressing the need for the long-awaited act to enable apartment associations to register under an authoritative body. “This matter has lingered for nearly five decades. A new apartment act is essential for proper audits and elections within apartment complexes,” Vani Kishore remarked.
Highlighting the state’s lag behind others, Swetha, a home buyer from Belagere in Bengaluru East, emphasized the act’s importance in transferring land rights to home buyers and preventing fraudulent misuse of land documents. “In my case, despite purchasing the flat in 2021, the land was transferred from the landlord to his son in 2022.
This matter has lingered for nearly five decades. The new apartment act is essential for proper audits and elections in apartments.— Vani Kishore, Home Buyer
How can I be considered the legal owner of my unit, holding an undivided share in the land, when the land was transferred to someone else after all flats were sold? Our names are absent from the land records. I have filed a complaint with RERA to change the land title to the residents’ welfare association, but we haven’t received any relief. To prevent such complications, we urge the government to enact the new act,” Swetha said.
Home buyers and associations continue to call on the state government to finalize and notify the new apartment act, which they believe will clarify ownership, enhance governance, and protect residents’ rights across Karnataka.
