Real Estate Maharashtra
Maharashtra Halts Registration of Deals in Unauthorised Buildings
By GeoSquare News Desk · Published 2026-10-15
Property buyers in Maharashtra will need to verify a building's approvals far more carefully, after the state's registration department moved to stop the sale of units in unauthorised constructions. Sub-registrars across the state have been directed not to register sale deeds, agreements or transfers of property located in buildings that lack the necessary sanctions.
What the directive covers
The order applies to residential and commercial units in structures raised without approved plans or in violation of sanctioned layouts. Registrars have been asked to insist on documentary proof of authorisation before processing any transaction, effectively blocking a common route by which illegal inventory has historically entered the resale market.
RERA-registered projects treated separately
For projects that require registration under Section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, a valid RERA registration remains the primary evidence of a project's compliance status. Buyers of RERA-registered developments can continue transacting, provided the sanctioned plan and approvals submitted at the time of registration are consistent.
Impact on Pune, Mumbai and Thane markets
Illegal or unauthorised stock has long been concentrated in the peripheral belts of Pune, Mumbai's extended suburbs, Thane and parts of Navi Mumbai, where construction often ran ahead of permissions. A sizeable share of affordable and mid-segment resale inventory in these corridors could now become unsaleable until regularisation, if it is even eligible for it.
What buyers and investors should do
Before paying any earnest money, buyers should inspect the Commencement Certificate, the approved plan, the occupancy certificate and the sanctioned use of the property, and cross-check these with the local planning authority. Existing owners of units in suspect buildings should seek legal opinion early, as financing from banks and housing finance companies is also likely to tighten on such assets.