MahaRERA mandates single registration number for each standalone project

Source: The Economic Times

The regulatory authority has introduced this measure in response to cases where developers secured two or more MahaRERA registration numbers for the same or portions of a real estate project.

The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has mandated a single registration number for every standalone project to safeguard homebuyers' interest.

The regulatory authority has introduced this measure in response to certain cases where developers secured two or more MahaRERA registration numbers for the same or portions of a real estate project. 

The directive issued on Wednesday, effective immediately, aims to prevent fraudulent practices and prevent cheating of homebuyers.

According to the latest directive, going forward, any promoter seeking new registration for a housing project must submit a declaration-cum-undertaking on their official letterhead. This document, in the prescribed format, attests that neither the proposed project site nor any of its parts holds a MahaRERA registration number, nor is there any pending application.

"MahaRERA is trying its best that there should not be any possibility under the pretext of which the developer gets an opportunity to delay the project. 'One Stand-alone Project: One MahaRERA Number' is another crucial policy towards safeguarding the interest of all stakeholders including homebuyers. This latest decision will help MahaRERA monitor all the projects more effectively, while strictly implementing the regulatory provisions," said Ajoy Mehta, Chairman, MahaRERA.

This directive extends to both standalone and multi-phased housing projects situated on extensive plots. The specified format will encompass particulars like CS number, CTS number, final plot number, survey number, Hissa number, GAT number, Khasra number, etc. In the event of inaccuracies, misinformation, or deception in the provided details, MahaRERA will take appropriate action against the concerned promoter.

The regulator has noticed that some promoters are applying for additional MahaRERA registration numbers for various reasons, without disclosing the same to the authority, despite the plot or project already having a registration number.

It has been observed that in some places the landowner, the promoters are different and they work independently and in some places the land owner contracts with more than one promoter. This creates multiple challenges and confusion in project's completion.

Such projects face difficulties in getting Occupancy Certificates (OC) and consequently, the homebuyers end up facing difficulties in securing water supply and other basic civic facilities. To prevent such occurrences, MahaRERA has introduced this new policy of "One Stand-alone Project: One MahaRERA Number".

In case of a project on a large plot separate registration number for the project or phases can be obtained. However, any reservation on the plot as declared by the government and local planning authority cannot be changed without the formalities as prescribed by the authorities concerned, time-to-time. This includes legal consent of the Allottees as well, the regulator said.

MahaRERA has initiated these legal measures to avoid any complaints, disputes with regards to common or special amenities such as recreation, playground, parking, internal roads, swimming pool, club house, gymnasium, etc. All these need to be categorically and unambiguously specified for every project's phase in each of the applications submitted for a new MahaRERA registration number.