Chandigarh Housing Board to Protect Changes Permitted Under Earlier Policies

Move to bring relief to homeowners facing uncertainty over house modifications; residents must submit documents and meet prescribed conditions

By The Realty Times | Real Estate News Services

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has decided to protect existing construction and modifications carried out under its earlier need-based change policies, providing significant relief to homeowners who have faced uncertainty because of repeated changes in building regulations.

The decision is expected to benefit owners of independent houses who made additions or alterations in accordance with the rules permitted at the time. Under the proposed framework, eligible construction will be allowed to remain, subject to specified conditions, documentation and payment of applicable charges.

The move aims to address a long-standing concern among residents: modifications that were permitted under an earlier policy were sometimes treated as violations after the rules were revised. This situation exposed homeowners to notices, possible demolition and legal disputes.

Under the proposed framework, eligible homeowners will have three months to disclose construction carried out under previous CHB need-based change orders.

They will be required to submit building plans certified by a registered architect, along with a structural stability certificate in the prescribed format under the Chandigarh Building Rules (Urban), 2017. Any outstanding charges applicable to the permitted modifications must also be paid.

The CHB will examine the submitted documents and update its records wherever the construction complies with the relevant policy provisions.

If officials identify deviations that cannot be regularised or compounded, the allottee will be informed within 60 days and required to remove the violations.

The framework also clarifies that homeowners will not be treated as violators merely for failing to obtain separate prior permission for construction covered by the board's earlier need-based change orders.

The CHB's need-based change policies have undergone several revisions over the years. Changes that were permitted under earlier rules were subsequently restricted or treated as violations under later policies, creating uncertainty for homeowners.

The new framework seeks to prevent residents from facing retrospective hardship for construction undertaken in accordance with the rules applicable at the time.

The decision follows continued demands from residents and housing associations for greater consistency in the implementation of building regulations. It also seeks to address concerns relating to demolition notices, financial losses and prolonged litigation.

The CHB board of directors has approved the framework, but it will come into effect after formal notification. Homeowners should therefore follow the final notified provisions and application procedures before seeking recognition of their existing construction.

The decision represents an important step towards balancing residents' housing needs with building safety, planning regulations and legal compliance. For eligible homeowners, it could provide greater clarity about the status of modifications made under earlier policies and reduce the uncertainty caused by successive regulatory changes.