Gurgaon: A flat booked nearly five years ago is still out of reach for a UK-based couple, but Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (H-Rera) has ordered an Ansal group subsidiary to pay for the delay. Identity Buildtech Pvt Ltd, which failed to complete the project in Sector 103, has been asked to pay 10.8% annual interest from the promised possession date until a valid offer is made or the flat is actually handed over.The order, passed by H-Rera chairperson Arun Kumar on July 17, followed a complaint by Anil Kumar Bhardwaj and Lalita Bhardwaj, residents of Slough in the UK. Their ordeal began in 2016, when they booked a flat in Ansals Amantre in Sector 88A. When the project failed to progress, more than Rs 48 lakh paid by them was transferred to a new unit in Ansal Highland Park in 2019.A fresh buyer’s agreement signed in Dec 2019 promised possession by Nov 30, 2021. The Bhardwajs paid another Rs 18 lakh and met every instalment demand, yet construction made no substantial progress. There is still no occupation certificate or an offer of possession.The couple also challenged a debit of more than Rs 5 lakh shown as interest payable by them in a customer ledger issued in Dec 2025. They called the levy “illegal”, saying they received no prior notice or demand letter.H-Rera rejected the developer’s plea that the complaint was time-barred and that delay liability was governed only by contractual terms. Since the project has no occupation certificate, the authority pointed out that it will be considered “ongoing” and RERA provisions would continue to apply.Two other respondents escaped liability. Agro Gold Chemicals India LLP, which owned a small parcel in the project and received 18 flats under a 2020 collaboration agreement, was cleared after H-Rera found it was neither promoter, developer nor agent. Ansal Housing Ltd was also absolved because the buyer’s agreement was solely with Identity Buildtech, which H-Rera held liable as promoter.The company has been asked to clear accumulated interest within 90 days, with subsequent monthly interest payable by the 10th. The order said any separate claim for compensation for mental agony or litigation costs must be made before the adjudicating officer under Section 71 of the Rera Act.
