What is MahaRERA? 5 important things every homebuyer should know before booking a property

Maharashtra’s real estate is among the fastest growing markets. Homebuyers today are more aware and cautious of all legalities and are more informed than ever before. One of the biggest reasons behind this major change is MahaRERA, the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority which was set up under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. The MahaRERA was introduced to bring transparency and accountability into the real estate sector of Maharashtra. The act came into effect on May 1, 2017 and regulates residential and commercial real estate projects across Maharashtra. As of now, there are over 52,000 registered projects registered under this. The body has also solved over thousands of complaints over the years.

Before purchasing a property in Maharashtra, it’s important to check the project’s MahaRERA registration. A non-negotiable first step. On this note, let’s have a look at five key things every homebuyer and investor should know about MahaRERA and why it matters:

First thing first. One of MahaRERA’s most key rules is that every eligible project should be registered. It is mandatory. Moreover, builders cannot advertise, market or sell flats in eligible projects without getting a MahaRERA registration number. Generally, projects with land exceeding 500 square metres or more than eight apartments must be registered. Those interested in buying homes can verify project details, approvals and timelines.

Transparency is the key. Every registered builder must share complete information and that is one of the biggest strengths of MahaRERA. Developers are required to upload every small detail of project information online, including:

Timelines
Carpet area
Government approvals
Floor plans
Layouts
Completion schedules
Quarterly construction updates

Before RERA came into the scene, delayed possession was among the biggest issues in the Indian real estate market. MahaRERA now holds developers accountable for project timelines promised during registration. If a builder missed to complete or hand over a project on time, buyers can seek compensation and refunds. This has certainly strengthened buyer confidence. The authority has also increased scrutiny of documents such as Occupancy Certificates (OCs) to prevent fake approvals.

MahaRERA also offers an online service where people can register grievances and file complaints against developers in case of delays, false promises and poor construction quality, among others. Till now, the authority has resolved thousands of issues since its inception. Back in 2025, MahaRERA reportedly cleared a record number of complaints.

Now this is a very important rule. Registration alone does not mean automatic approval. It’s a misconception. While registration improves transparency and accountability, buyers must still verify land ownership and approvals, among other aspects. Real estate experts often recommend checking a project’s litigation history and complaint records in addition to its MahaRERA registration.