Tejasvi Surya Urges Karnataka to Align Apartment Bill with RERA, Seeks Stronger Homebuyer Protection
Bengaluru: Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has welcomed the proposed Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2026, describing the replacement of the state’s decades-old apartment laws as a long-overdue reform. At the same time, he has urged the Karnataka government to ensure that the proposed legislation strengthens the implementation of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA), 2016, instead of creating a parallel legal framework.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and shared on social media, Surya said the biggest challenge facing lakhs of apartment owners in Karnataka is not the lack of legal rights but the ineffective implementation of Section 17 of RERA, particularly regarding the timely conveyance of common areas and accountable apartment governance.
The MP said he has submitted a detailed set of recommendations to the state government based on consultations with apartment owners, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), housing federations and legal experts to strengthen the proposed legislation.
Among his key recommendations are:
- Mandatory, time-bound transfer of title for common areas to registered apartment associations through effective enforcement of Section 17 of RERA.
- A clearly defined relationship between the proposed Competent Authority and existing statutory bodies, including RERA, local planning authorities, Sub-Registrars and civil courts, to avoid overlapping jurisdictions and conflicting decisions.
- A uniform governance framework for apartment associations across Karnataka with standardised registration, model bye-laws, financial disclosures, periodic audits and grievance redressal mechanisms.
- Stronger enforcement provisions for deemed conveyance, including penalties against developers who fail to comply with statutory obligations.
- Integration of the proposed law with the Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest (CERSAI) to improve transparency and protect homebuyers’ interests.
- Strengthening mutation provisions through better coordination between the Competent Authority, Registration Department and Revenue Department for automatic mutation after conveyance registration.
- Enhanced financial transparency by requiring apartment associations to provide apartment owners with timely access to audited financial statements, bank account summaries and records relating to maintenance and corpus funds.
Surya said the proposed legislation should expressly complement the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, and reinforce its implementation rather than introduce another standalone statutory framework.
“Karnataka deserves a law that empowers homebuyers, strengthens the rights guaranteed under the Central Government’s RERA, 2016, and delivers accountable apartment governance—not just another statute,” Surya said in his social media post.
The recommendations have been submitted for the Karnataka government’s consideration during the finalisation of the Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2026.
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