DLF Westend Heights project does not get approval

Few years back I committed a mistake of booking an apartment in Pre-Launch offer. It was peak of real estate boom and almost every builder had some Pre-Launch offer in their plate and I too got lured for a cheaper deal but at the end it was a big loss.

As I read the news of DLF Westend Heights, I can empathize with the owners who might have invested their hard earned money in dream project. I can see flaring nostrils, fuming face and angry heads. Few angry with builder, others angry upon themselves repenting their decision of booking an apartment in Pre-Launch offer and now bit confused on the next step.

BBPM has tightened the noose and issued a public notice saying that DLF has not obtained its approval for the Westend Heights project, Bangalore but has gone ahead and started bookings. BBMP has cautioned customers against investing in this property. The construction will be termed as illegal and the buyers may not get the occupancy certificate. Jai ho !! BBMP for taking action against builders who are involved in these practices.

Click below picture to see detailed notice.



Expectations from the Government

• Monitor fake and illegal real estate advertisements in the newspapers.
• Ban all Pre-Launch offers
• Take stern action against builders promoting illegal construction - Just banning the project may not be sufficient. There should be huge penalty imposed on these builders, a penalty which will make them think twice before committing these grave mistake. Look how Intel has been fined for $1.45 billion in Europe.

Lessons Learned

Never book an apartment in Pre-launch - Initially you may gain few hundred rs/sq ft but in long run you may loose even more.

• The project may get delayed for several months or years - Your booking amount will get blocked for that duration.

• The project may not even get approved - Don't be under impression that big builders has prior approval before starting the booking or they might get the approval by hook or by crook. This is not always the case. Verify approved documents from development authorities and don't hesitate to question builders if you have any doubts.

• Issue with the floor plan - What will you do if you were looking for bigger rooms and the builder provides room size of 100 Sq ft or even lesser? What will you do if you were looking for balconies in every room but you find a enclosed fort? What will you do if all toilets are attached to bedroom and temporary guests have to walk down to bedroom to toilets for washing their hands. Don't assume that your builder is in the construction industry for a long time and they will not make such mistakes. These are some of the common very basic issues observed when you go for an apartment hunting. It may come as a rude shock once the floor plan is launched and when it doesn't meets your expectation. You either sell the apartment or compromise with the problem through out your life.

• Issue with the agreement - What will you do if the agreement is in favour of builder?

• Issue with the apartment allocation - Lot of times in Pre-Launch builder allocates the apartment at random. Though they might ask you for your favourite floor and location but then there are few other people like you who had booked in Pre-launch so finally lottery determines your apartment fate. It's important that floor, direction & location is as per your requirements and choice. Otherwise regret by saying room is dark, sunlight never comes to the room.

• Sell the apartment - I hear someone saying well if I have these issues, I'll sell my apartment. But selling might not be practical solution all the time. If you sell you might get booking amount plus may be some interest amount but by that time apartment price in the neighborhood might have already moved north so you will be forced to buy a new apartment at higher price.

Weigh all the benefits & risks associated with Pre-launch offers before taking the joy ride.

Read here detailed news of Westend Heights project in moneycontrol. You must read the last line of the news that 600 of the 2,000 apartment homes have been sold in last 2 weeks. Similar claim was made by Prestige Shantiniketan that all apartments were booked on Day 1, Brigade Metropolis, Brigade Gateway, Purva Fountain Square has their own inflated stories and even after 5 years you still see the sale advertisements in newspaper. All these projects are worth investment but let's be realistic on the sales figure.




Next Step
1) Share this article and spread the awareness with your friends and relatives. "No Approvals, No booking in Pre-Launch".
2) If you have booked an apartment in Westend Heights then get connected with other owners through Google Group and seek help. All the best!!
3) If you have Pre-Launch stories to share then please leave a comment. Readers of this blog will learn from your experiences.

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