Maharashtra to Introduce Vertical Property Cards for Flat Owners: Committee Formed

Pune, 1st November 2025: The Maharashtra government has decided to frame new rules for issuing supplementary property cards—also known as vertical property cards—to provide every flat owner with legal proof of ownership rights. A committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department to draft these rules and submit a report within a month.

Currently, flat owners rely on tax payment receipts and sale agreements with municipal bodies to prove ownership. The existing property card of the land on which a building stands typically records the name of the housing society or apartment association, listing all flat holders collectively rather than individually.

In 2019, the Land Records Department had proposed the concept of vertical property cards to give each flat holder an individual property card, supplementing the main land record. The proposal, approved in principle by the government and supported by a draft of rules, has remained pending for five years. Instead of finalizing it, the state government has now appointed a new committee to revisit the framework.

According to the new order issued by Joint Secretary of the Revenue Department Sanjay Bankar, the committee will include the Additional Chief Secretaries of the Land Records, Urban Development, Rural Development, and Law and Justice Departments, along with the Jamabandi Commissioner and the Inspector General of Registration. The Joint Secretary of the Revenue Department will serve as the committee’s member secretary.

Committee’s Mandate The committee has been tasked with: Preparing a draft of the necessary rules to record flat owners’ details on the Satbara Utara or property card. Studying laws from other states that maintain ownership records for multi-storey buildings. Recommending how land beneath buildings and common-use areas should be reflected in the records. Reviewing the earlier proposal submitted by the Jamabandi Commissioner.

Benefits of the Vertical Property Card Officials said the supplementary property card will serve as an authoritative proof of ownership for revenue purposes, providing each flat owner with a separate legal record of their property. The document will specify both the individual ownership area and the portion of the land belonging to all residents collectively.

Authorities believe the initiative will protect the rights of flat holders, bring greater transparency to property transactions, and reduce the chances of fraud in property dealings.