IN THIS POST
– What to do before buying a property
– What to do while booking a property
– What to do after booking a property
– What to do before taking possession
– What to do after taking possession
Are you a real estate entrant looking for investment opportunities in Karachi? If so, you probably have a lot of concerns and questions about choosing the right housing scheme, obtaining a construction permit from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), and so on. Since the prospect of purchasing a home or a plot, whether as an investment or for personal use, can be quite overwhelming for some, here are some SBCA instructions for buying property that will keep you from falling victim to a scam and keep your investment safe.
Before we begin, please note that these guidelines to buy property in Karachi are taken from an SBCA notification. Thus, these instructions are subject to change at the discretion of the authority responsible for planned development in the region.
What to do Before Buying a Property
As per the SBCA instructions for buying property, buyers should confirm the following before purchasing a plot, house, apartment or shop from private builders and developers.
- The building plan of the real estate project must have been approved by the Sindh Building Control Authority
- The layout plan of open plot housing schemes must be approved by the Karachi Development Authority or another relevant authority/department
- The builder or the developer advertising the project must have obtained the NOC for sale and advertisement from the SBCA
- Buyers must also confirm the details of the projects – such as its location, name of the developer or company, number of plots or number of floors, the price of each unit, covered area, payment schedule and possession date – from the public notices published on SBCA website as well as in newspapers.
What to do While Booking a Property
Here are the SBCA guidelines for what investors and homebuyers must do while booking property for sale in Karachi.
Take a look:
- The written agreement between the buyer and the developer must be in accordance with the Model Agreement as per Section 12 (4) of the Sindh Building Control Authority bylaws. The agreement must also be attested by the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD). Please note that the Model Agreement is available on the SBCA website
- The agreement must also include all the details about the property, such as unit number, floor, covered area, total price, instalment schedule (if any), possession date and document charges etc.
- As per the SBCA instructions for buying property in Karachi, a developer cannot demand for the payment of further instalments without the approval from ABAD
What to do After Booking a Property
This is what property buyers must do after booking a property in Karachi, as per the SBCA notification.
- All payments to the developer must be made according to the total price and instalment schedule as per the SBCA NOC. It is recommended to avoid paying any monthly, quarterly or bi-annual instalments demanded suddenly by the builder or developer
- Keep an eye on the real estate project’s development and make a few visits to monitor its status. In case of any unforeseen delays or shutdowns, immediately contact the SBCA Design Section
- Refrain from making any cash payments. Instead, always make payments through cross cheques or pay orders in the company name. Moreover, always obtain a receipt for each of your payments and keep them safe as a proof
- If the management of the project suddenly changes, stop your scheduled payments and contact the Sindh Building Control Authority
What to do Before Taking Possession
According to the SBCA instructions for buying property, this is what needs to be done before taking possession of a property
- Once the development and/or construction work is completed, visit the project to make sure everything is in the right order
- The buyer must also ensure that the completion plan for the real estate project has been approved by the Sindh Building Control Authority. They must also make sure the developer has obtained a residential certificate from the authority
- The buyer must check if the project has gas, water and electricity connections
- In addition to that, they must also confirm if the project features all the promised facilities, such as parking area, elevators, backup generators, fire escape and fire alarm system etc.
What to do After Taking Possession
Once you have taken possession of a property, here is what the SBCA notification recommends you to do
- Ask the developer to register your unit’s sublease in your name
- All the residents and property owners in the said project must form a residents’ society. A year after the project’s completion, this society must become responsible for the neighbourhood’s maintenance
- For the maintenance of the project, an agreement must be signed with a maintenance company that has been registered with the Sindh Building Control Authority
- The builder or developer is responsible for the project’s management during the first year. Therefore, they are obliged to repair any structural damage reported within the first 12 months and any damage in fixtures reported during the first six months
In case of any problems, buyers should immediately contact the SBCA complaint cell.
SBCA Complaint Cell Number: 021-99230981 Ext: 428
Meanwhile, if you are looking to buy property in Karachi and can’t decide which area might be the most suitable for you, we’ve got you covered. To check out the facilities, amenities and sales trends in different housing schemes across the city, make sure to take a look at our area guides for Karachi.
You can also take a look at the low-cost houses for sale in Karachi or get in touch with us by dropping an email at blog@zameen.com.
In addition to that, if you are a real estate market entrant, our in-depth guide on buying and selling property in Pakistan might help you out. Similarly, you should also check out our real estate glossary to familiarize yourself with the industry jargon.
For more information on where and how to buy property in Karachi, stay connected to Zameen Blog – the leading construction and property blog in Pakistan. You can also subscribe to our newsletter on the right to receive the latest updates about real estate trends in the country.
