RERA Rules: Can Buyers Fight Poor Construction Quality?

Maitrayee Patel (name changed), 29, purchased a ₹60 lakh apartment on the top floor of a residential building in Pune, Maharashtra, in May 2023. However, within two months of taking ownership, she began experiencing leaks in one of the bedrooms. When she filed the complaint, the developer’s agent assured her that repairs would be completed after the monsoon, once the area had dried.

In a similar case, a Noida resident’s viral video recently highlighted the growing dissatisfaction among even premium homeowners with the poor building quality in high-rise developments. Despite paying roughly ₹1 crore for a 22nd-floor unit, the homeowner presented visuals of cracking plaster and apparent outside discoloration, alleging that the building’s condition falls far short of its premium pricing.

Beyond structural faults, the resident expressed sanitary concerns, citing an insect infestation reportedly caused by pigeon feces in a neighboring vacant unit. The video has sparked a bigger debate in the NCR about the growing gap between rising housing prices and the actual quality supplied by developers.

According to news reports, on November 29, 2025, the Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority tribunal declared that real estate developers in Karnataka are legally required to furnish mandatory Section 16 insurance paperwork to homebuyers or incur the expense of repairs themselves.

What options do homebuyers have in the event of structural defects?
The exact provision on structural defects is in Section 14(3) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, which states, “In case any structural defect or any other defect in workmanship, quality or provision of services or any other obligations of the promoter as per the agreement for sale relating to such development is brought to the notice of the promoter within a period of five years from the date of handing over possession, it shall be

According to the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority, in accordance with the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act of 2016, a “structural defect” includes issues in the building’s foundation, columns, beams, slabs, or any other core structural components, as well as defects in workmanship, quality, or service provision. If such faults are detected within five years, the developer must repair them within 30 days at no additional expense to the homebuyer. If the developer fails to do so, the buyer is entitled to compensation.

This clause is especially important in markets like Mumbai, where redevelopment projects and high-rise buildings are common, making long-term structural durability a top priority. Along with building defect liability, possession rules are equally significant. According to experts, the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority’s website provides clear requirements for homebuyers to follow before taking ownership of their property.Before taking possession of a home, buyers must confirm that all documentation are in order, including the originals and copies provided by the promoter. According to MahaRERA requirements, verify the Occupancy Certificate (OC), which confirms legal completion, and ensure that the architect’s Form 4 is posted to the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority web.