Unraveling the Significance of the OC Certificate in Real Estate
When you purchase properties or invest in the real estate sector, several documents and certificates are highly important to make sure that the transaction is valid. One of the documents that is required to be reviewed when investing in real estate is the Occupancy Certificate (OC certificate). This blog will examine the need for the Occupancy Certificate in the real estate sector, including the definition of the Occupancy Certificate as well as the consequences of ignoring it and the difference between an occupancy & completion certificate. In addition, you can explore the process of getting an OC.
Consequences of Neglecting OC Certificate
It is vital to remember to obtain an OC Certificate to avoid unpleasant consequences as a house owner. First of all, OC is an important certificate that legalizes the property and without it, the property is considered to be unauthorized by the authorities. Getting involved in illegal construction without the occupancy certificate brings in the risk of being sued, fined, and even your house being demolished. Besides, as a homeowner, you could also have difficulties obtaining essential supplies like water and electricity connections.
In the absence of a valid, a person might also not be able to sell the property or borrow loans. Banks and creditors consider the OC Certificate as one of the most important documents during loan approvals. The lack of a credible OC might depreciate the property’s value in the market, thus, making it difficult to attract tenants and buyers.
Difference Between Occupancy, and house Completion Certificate
The OC (Occupancy Certificate) and CC (Completion Certificate) are often mistaken to be similar but they serve two different purposes. While both the certificates are issued and signify the successful completion of the project, they have completely different meanings and goals.
A completion Certificate is the one that the municipal corporation or developmental authority of that region provides you upon completion of construction. This certificate guarantees the project is developed according to the approved plans and regulated safety standards. This guarantees that the developers of the project follow the mandatory guidelines including structural integrity, fire safety, and sanitation.
However, the Occupancy Certificate is permitted by the same body only after they are convinced that the building fulfills all the conditions meant for occupancy. It guarantees that all essential amenities and utilities, infrastructure, and safety necessities are in place to avoid inconveniences for the residents when the flats get occupied.
Process of getting OC certificate
To obtain the OC a system needs to be followed. The steps to get the Occupancy Certificate may be different from one city to another. While the specific steps may vary, the general procedure is as follows:
1. Completion of Construction: Before obtaining an OC certificate for the project, ensure the construction of the building is completed including the crucial facilities like amenities, infrastructure, and safety precautions.
2. Application for OC: Once the project is completed, the house owner or developer should apply for the Occupancy Certificate to the local municipal corporation [BBMP] with the required documents attached to the application like a completion certificate, building plans, and fire safety compliance documents.
3. Inspection and Verification: The authority that is in charge of issuing the OC conducts an extensive inspection of the building to make sure it adheres to the regulations and standards.
4. Final Decision: As a result of the inspection, the authority issues the Occupancy Certificate if all the requirements are fully met. They are likely to bring up and suggest any pending works that are not compliant and that need to be taken care of by the developer.
5. Issuance of OC: Consequently, when the project is completely compliant and the authority deems it to be ready for occupancy, the authority issues an OC certificate that confirms that the property is fully safe to be occupied.
Nevertheless, the time and process of getting the Occupancy certification will vary depending on the project as the delay in the timeline occurs due to the project’s complexity and the speed at which the local authorities work.
Occupancy Certificate (OC) is viewed as the most essential certificate in the real estate domain since this validates the completion of the building as per all the municipal codes of the area as well as other building guidelines, including the relevant fire safety standards. This ensures homes or projects that do not have the OC to be sued to pay high capital fines. The other issue that will arise from the absence of the occupancy certificate for the project is the fact that builders would find it hard to access even the most basic amenities such as power connection or sewage disposal from the government. In the same way, the absence of the occupancy certificate would cause difficulty for the house owners to either sell or rent their homes as the buyers would not have the desire to tumble to any risk. Investors will not be enthusiastic to invest in such developments as there is a high chance that the value of these houses will depreciate and will result in losses for them. The OC can only be granted once the authority is convinced that the building is complying with all the set standards and is safe to occupy. Work with Jones Asset Management, the best local asset holding company, and turn your investments into lucrative undertakings
