RERA or Real Estate Regulation and Development Act is a regulatory authority for the real estate industry. The laws in the act have laid down standard rules for the sale and purchase of properties which must be mandatorily followed by developers and builders in Mumbai. They act as a guide for property buyers to bring transparency to the property buying process. The act came into effect in May 2017 with guidelines designed to save homebuyers from fraudulent practices and boost investment in Mumbai real estate.

RERA registration

Under the RERA every builder and developer has to mandatorily register their residential or commercial properties if the total land area being developed is more than 500 square meters or the total number of units is greater than 8. The builder cannot market or sell his properties if it not registered with the RERA authorities. All the details of the project need to be disclosed in the public domain by uploading on the official RERA website.

Calculation of Carpet Area

The developer must follow the standard procedure to calculate the carpet area. The carpet area is defined as the net usable floor area of the apartment that does not include external walls, service shaft areas, balconies and verandas, and terrace areas. If the builder wants to make any changes in the initial approved plans it can be done only after acquiring the consent of two-thirds of the allottees in the project.

Delivery and Updates

RERA makes it compulsory for the builders to complete the construction of the projects in the stipulated time failing which they may have to refund the amount paid to the buyer or pay interest for every month till possession. The builder must provide quarterly updates about the status of the property in Dahisar East and details about the number of units sold.

Standardised agreements

As per RERA norms, every builder or reseller must follow a standard format for the sale agreements. Builders are allowed to alter the agreements as per the facts declared. This prevents homebuyers from getting duped by one-sided agreements benefitting the builder.

Advance Payments

Under RERA guidelines, the builder cannot demand more than 10% advance of the property value. The builder must enter into a written agreement with the buyer for additional payments for any property in Mumbai.

Grievance Redressal

If the homebuyer identifies any structural defect in the property within five years the builder must rectify them within 30 days or compensate the homebuyer accordingly. All complaints against the builder in Mumbai must be made in writing to the Mumbai RERA authorities. The RERA authority will have to resolve the grievance within 60 days.

These are important RERA guidelines that every buyer and seller should know before buying a home.