Measure your flat, Lodha Group has cheated you

13th November, 2017, Mumbai: Our first article, titled Lodha Fiorenza – Misleading RERA, Blindfolding Flat Buyers, reveals how Lodha's sales staff mis-sells the flats to customers and keeps them in the dark by denying them crucial information about the project. Our second article about how Lodha Group is defrauding flat buyers in Carpet Area has been provoking many flat purchasers to ask the right questions. But such is the strength of the LODHA BRAND that people hesitate to believe anything written against Lodha. "This can't be true," they argue. Well, we believe that seeing is believing. So, here is an actual instance of Lodha's carpet-area fraud. Below are plans of flats in Lodha Belmondo that show you clearly how much Lodha is cheating you.

"4Bed Layout (2751 sqft)"

This plan titled "4Bed Layout (2751 sqft)" was emailed by Lodha Group's sales staff. If you total up the dimensions shown in the plan, the measurement is 1815.63 without terrace, and 1936.38 square feet with the terrace. This flat is a 814.62 square feet smaller than what Lodha sales staff claims. But Lodha sales staff and customer relationship managers cheat you by making you write "4BHK 2751 sq ft" in your own handwriting on your Application Form, and sign the page, and affirm that you have written this down after due verification. (The application form is a crucial part of Lodha's strategy for cheating you. More about that in another article!)

"3Bed Luxe (2341 sqft)"

This plan is titled "3Bed Luxe (2341 sqft)" in the email attachment. The actual measurement is only 1520 sq ft without terrace, and 1639 sq ft with terrace. It is 702 sq ft smaller than claimed by Lodha.

"Golf Suite Flat Layout (711 sqft)"

This plan is titled "Golf Suite Flat Layout (711 sqft)" in the email. The actual carpet area measurements are 449 sq ft with terrace and 482.68 sq ft with terrace. This flat is 228.3 sq ft smaller than claimed by Lodha.

Now, is it possible that we are mistaken? Is it possible that these dimensions (711 sq ft etc.) are super-built up area or built-up area? So we asked the sales staff on email, and received a reply that it "would be carpet area as after Maha Rera the government has ruled out build up and super build up." We have proof of all this correspondence.

If you wish to double-check our arithmetic, refer to the step-by-step calculations given below. These calculations have been done by a trained interior designer.

Lodha Group forbids you to officially measure the carpet area of your flat. If you raise a dispute regarding carpet area, Lodha threatens to destroy your interior work as a precondition for resolving the dispute by measuring the carpet area! In almost all Lodha projects, the carpet area mentioned in the agreement are much less than the actual. To prevent this truth from becoming exposed, your registered agreement states that if carpet area is to be measured, the finishes must first be removed at your cost. This means removal of your paint and plaster, skirting, headboards, bathroom wall tiles, and possible damage to flooring also! This toxic clause is found in the "Proforma Allotment Letter and Agreement to Sell" uploaded on RERA website. The clause states:

So, how does Lodha group pull wool over the eyes of MahaRERA? Isn't every builder supposed to compulsorily make a clear declaration of the carpet area of each flat, as well as all details of the project? Well, it turns out that Lodha Group -- like  many other crooked builders -- have already perfected a method of creating confusion. They divide one project into multiple projects and mention the carpet area in ways that customers cannot directly relate to their flats. For instance, Lodha Belmondo is divided into seven projects on MahaRERA website:

Much remains to be written about Lodha's cunning MahaRERA declaration which serves to confuse flat-buyers and outwit MahaRERA.  Lodha's scam isn't limited to carpet area fraud. It has multiple facets, including misinforming the public about the size and nature of common amenities such as clubhouse, golf course, swimming pool and recreation area. More will be revealed in another article!

ISSUED IN PUBLIC INTEREST BY
Krishnaraj Rao
9821588114
Mumbai