• Buying a second floor flat in an apartment with unapproved ground floor flat

Hi, 
I'm buying a second floor flat in an 2 floor apartment in Chennai. According to the approved plan given by the seller, the stilt has only parking but actually there is a flat in the ground floor.
The seller says since you're buying only on 2nd floor, there's no concern. The uds is divided among 7 flats(G +2 + 2)
Will I have any problem in future when the government authority notices the violation in ground floor? 
Also according to the plan, there's supposed to be a balcony in one bedroom and service area in kitchen in the 2nd floor flat which I'm looking to buy. Both are missing with just plain bedroom and kitchen. 
Should this deviation be a cause for concern? 
Thanks
Asked 12 months ago in Property Law
Religion: Hindu

4 answers received in 2 hours.

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9 Answers

Don’t purchase the flat if the construction has not been as per per sanctioned  plans

 

Whether occupation certificate has been issued by the municipal Corporation, kindly clarify

 

if no OC is issued, don’t purchase the flat

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

The builder has built the building/flats to his convenience by totally deviating the approved plan.

The flat in the ground floor constructed against stilt parking will be demolished once the corrupted officials are exposed.

Besides the deviation in construction of the flat you propose to purchase is also liable penal action by competent authority when the matter comes to their knowledge.

There are people to make complaint against such irregularities hence it is always a problem.

Did you obtain a proper legal opinion for the property you wish to buy.

If not do it immediately and proceed only when recommended and also by obtaining second opinion from another experienced lawyer.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

Second floor flat in the  two floor is no problem. Major violation is in stilt, purchaser of stilt flat will face the  music. Absence of sanctioned balcony is not a violation of sanction, it is condonable deviation. Even absence of service area in kitchen is not an actionable violation. Corporations time notify regularization schemes for violations of sanctioned plane on payment of penalty, you can make use so such schemes. General law is, Corporation should take action against violation during construction, once construction is completed, unless such construction violates any environmental award, demolition cannot be carried out.

Ravi Shinde
Advocate, Hyderabad
5125 Answers
42 Consultations

 

1. Unapproved Ground Floor Flat:


  • Risk of Demolition or Penalty: The unauthorized flat on the ground floor is a violation of the approved building plan. If the authorities identify this, they may impose penalties or even demolish the unauthorized structure.

  • Shared UDS (Undivided Share of Land): Since the UDS is divided among all 7 flats, any legal or structural action against the ground floor flat could impact all owners, including you.

  • Resale Challenges: Plan violations can make resale difficult, as future buyers or banks (for loans) may hesitate due to legal uncertainties.

Advice:

  • Ask the seller if the ground floor flat has any regularization or approval under schemes like the Tamil Nadu government's amnesty schemes for plan deviations. Without such approval, proceed cautiously.
  • Obtain a written declaration from the seller about the ground floor's status and potential risks.

2. Deviations in Your Second Floor Flat:


  • Missing Balcony and Service Area: The flat you are buying does not match the approved plan. Such deviations may attract penalties during inspections by local authorities or when applying for property loans.

  • Impact on Market Value: Deviations can reduce the property's resale value and make obtaining loans for buyers or yourself challenging in the future.

Advice:

  • Discuss these deviations with the seller and understand if they can regularize the property under the local rules.
  • Factor these deviations into the pricing—demand a lower price to account for the risk.
  • Engage an engineer or architect to evaluate the structural impact of these deviations and whether they can be legally regularized.

3. Legal and Due Diligence:


  • Title Verification: Ensure the seller has a clear title and that the property has no pending litigation or encumbrances.

  • Encumbrance Certificate: Check the EC for any outstanding mortgages or claims.

  • Approval Documents: Get the approved plan, UDS allocation documents, and building completion certificate (if available) reviewed by a property lawyer.

4. What Should Concern You?


  • Future Legal Issues: The presence of an unapproved flat and plan deviations in your flat can lead to legal or financial challenges.

  • Resale and Loan Issues: These factors can affect the resale value and loan eligibility for you or future buyers.

  • Shared Responsibility: Any penalty or demolition affecting the ground floor flat may increase your shared burden as part of the UDS division.

 

For detailed, personalized advice, consider a phone consultancy. Hope you find the information helpful. You are free to contact me for further discussion. If you could spare two minutes of your time to write a review, it would be greatly appreciated and bring immense happiness to read it. Thank you. Shubham Goyal.

Shubham Goyal
Advocate, Delhi
2070 Answers
14 Consultations

Yes, such deviation is illegal unless regularised or permitted by authority. As per law, only one kitchen is permitted on each floor. Ask the seller or builder for Completion Certificate or compounding plan and if either of them is not provided then donot proceed further to purchase the flat. 

Siddharth Srivastava
Advocate, Delhi
1551 Answers

Your concerns are valid, as deviations from the approved plan may lead to legal and practical issues in the future. Here's a detailed analysis:

1. Ground Floor Violation:


  • Issue: The approved plan mentions stilt parking, but a flat exists on the ground floor. This constitutes a violation of the building plan approved by the authority.

  • Risk: If the government authorities notice this deviation, they may take actions such as issuing a demolition notice or imposing penalties. As a buyer, while you are purchasing only the second floor, the entire building's compliance with legal norms is critical. Any action by authorities may impact the entire structure, including your flat.

2. Undivided Share of Land (UDS):


  • Issue: The UDS is being divided among 7 flats, including the unauthorized ground floor flat. This division could lead to disputes in the future, particularly if the ground floor flat is challenged legally or if redevelopment is required.

  • Risk: The presence of an unauthorized flat can reduce the value of your share in the property and complicate matters if the building faces legal action or redevelopment.

3. Balcony and Service Area Deviation:


  • Issue: The absence of the balcony and service area in your flat indicates a deviation from the approved plan.

  • Risk: If these features are part of the sanctioned plan, their absence could be flagged during inspections or legal assessments. It may also impact the resale value or functionality of the flat.

Recommendations:

  1. Legal Verification:

    • Consult a local property lawyer to review the building approval plan, the deviation extent, and the flat's title and UDS documents.
    • Ensure that the deviations, including the ground floor flat and missing features in your flat, do not lead to future legal complications.

  2. Obtain an Encumbrance Certificate (EC):

    • This will confirm if there are any pending disputes or notices against the property.

  3. Check with the Local Authority:

    • Inquire with the local municipal or planning authority about the implications of these deviations and whether they can regularize the unauthorized portions.

  4. Renegotiate Price:

    • Use the deviations as leverage to negotiate a lower price if you still wish to proceed with the purchase.

  5. Consider an Alternative:

    • If the risks outweigh the benefits, consider looking for a property that complies with all legal norms.

Final Note: While minor deviations are common, the extent of the violations in this case (unauthorized ground floor and changes to the flat layout) warrants thorough due diligence. A legal consultation is highly recommended to safeguard your investment.

Aman Verma
Advocate, Delhi
502 Answers

You need to send the legal notice to builder & then to the corporation about the same. If not responded satisfactorily you need to approach court seeking appropriate directions against builder & corporation.

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34514 Answers
249 Consultations

Dear Client,

Buying a second-floor apartment in a building with unauthorised construction on the ground floor and with violations of the approved plan on your apartment raises very pertinent legal and practical issues. Unauthorised construction such as a flat in a stilt area meant only for parking is a clear violation of building norms; it may invite penalties or demolition orders or even punitive action by government authorities; this could affect the entire building, including your apartment where you are not even at fault for the violation. Add to this the deviations in the approved plan—e.g., the missing balcony and service area in your intended purchase—and you could, in the future, possibly have problems with approvals, re-sale, or availing yourself of loans. This is therefore something that needs clarification with the seller, and obtaining a legal opinion would certainly be advisable. Make sure that the title, undivided share, all approvals are in order and take a legal opinion with regard to risks and consequences to safeguard your investment as much as possible.

Hope that this helps you to solve your problem.

Anik Miu
Advocate, Bangalore
11014 Answers
125 Consultations

- As per the Supreme Court, mere departure from the authorized plan or erecting a structure without sanction does not justify demolition.

- Hence, the builder can apply for the approval for the said ground floor 

Mohammed Shahzad
Advocate, Delhi
15814 Answers
242 Consultations

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