Owning a home in India, especially in Tier-1 cities and metropolitan areas, is often both a dream and an investment. Many homeowners purchase flats not only for personal residence but also to earn rental income. However, this dual purpose has raised legal questions: if a flat is rented out, does the buyer still qualify as a “consumer” under the Consumer Protection Act? Recently, the Supreme Court of India provided clarity, delivering a landmark ruling that protects the rights of homebuyers. Renting Your Property Doesn’t Strip Consumer Rights The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and N.V. Anjaria, ruled that simply renting out a residential flat does not exclude the buyer from being considered a consumer. Builders had argued that when a flat is rented, it is purchased for business purposes, and therefore, the homebuyer cannot claim consumer protection. The Court clarified that a buyer cannot be excluded on the sole basis of earning rental income. For exclusi...