27/01/2023
RERA notification on Forfeiture of earnest money by the Builder in case of cancelation of allotment
Before the implementation of the Real Estate (Regulations and Development) Act, 2016 builders were doing frauds by forfeiture of entire money paid by the purchaser in case of cancellation of plot as there was no law for the same, however Hon’ble National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in their judgment has held that
“ The forfeiture amount of the earnest money shall not exceed more than 10% of the consideration amount of the real estate i.e. apartment/plot/building as the case may be in all cases where the cancellation of the flat/unit/plot is made by the builder in a unilateral manner or the buyer intends to withdraw from the project and any agreement containing any clause contrary to the aforesaid regulations shall be void and not binding on the buyer”.
In view of the said settled proposition of law the builder has to refund the balance sale consideration amount after deduction of 10% of the consideration amount with interest
The said proposition of law is also notified by THE HARYANA REAL ESTATE REGULATORY AUTHORITY, GURUGRAM in its Notification dated 5th December, 2018 The Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority Gurugram (Forfeiture of earnest money by the builder) Regulations, 2018. No. 11 /RERA GGM Regulations 2018.