MahaRERA Orders L&T to Fix Defects at Crescent Bay Parel

MahaRERA Steps In at Crescent Bay

The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority has directed L&T Parel Project LLP to address unresolved defects and safety-related issues at Tower 5 of the Crescent Bay residential project in Parel.

The order was passed by MahaRERA chairperson Manoj Saunik on September 3 following a complaint by the chairperson of the L&T Crescent Bay T-5 Co-operative Housing Society on behalf of its members.

The developer entity is a joint venture between Larsen & Toubro Realty and Omkar Realtors & Developers.

Possession Was Given in 2018

The project was originally registered with a proposed completion date of August 31, 2018.

The Slum Rehabilitation Authority issued the occupancy certificate for Tower 5 on March 15, 2018, while possession of apartments was handed over by September 4, 2018.

However, residents alleged that several issues involving the building and common areas continued despite repeated follow-ups.

Leakages and Fire Safety Among Key Issues

The housing society sought resolution of five principal issues.

These included completion of the automatic fire alarm system, permanent rectification of leakages, resolution of other work deficiencies, physical demarcation of the project boundary using cement poles and recovery of outstanding dues from defaulting neighbouring towers for credit to the common-area fund.

MahaRERA found that some problems remained unresolved despite rectification measures undertaken by the developer.

Defects Were Reported Within Liability Period

A particularly important aspect of the order concerns the timing of the residents' complaints.

MahaRERA noted that the society had raised defects before expiry of the applicable defect-liability periods — September 3, 2023 for individual flats and October 20, 2024 for common areas.

The authority held that because the problems had been reported within the prescribed period, the later expiry of that period could not invalidate those complaints.

MahaRERA has consequently directed the developer to expedite and fully complete the pending works and rectify the outstanding safety and infrastructure issues.

Sandeep Sadh’s Take:

“Possession and an occupancy certificate should not end a developer's responsibility where valid defects were reported within the prescribed period. This order reinforces the importance of post-possession accountability in large residential projects.”