MahaRERA to accept complaints against unregistered projects

Consumers will be allowed to file complaints against unregistered real estate projects on the MahaRERA website after paying Rs 5,000 from August 16. The move follows the July 31 order of the Bombay high court, which made it mandatory for the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) to hear complaints of consumers, irrespective of the registration status of the project concerned. In other words, the authority cannot refuse to hear consumer grievance filed under Section 3 of the RERA Act if the realty project — under-construction or completed — is not registered with the authority. MahaRERA secretary Vasant Prabhu told TOI that they have already uploaded a form under the “source information” category and would enable the payment facility for those desiring a hearing for their complaints from August 16.