Homebuyers to Benefit as MahaRERA Enforces Stricter Quality Assurance Standards for Developers
Mumbai, 20th August 2024: In a significant move to enhance construction quality and protect homebuyers, the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has introduced a new mandate requiring developers to submit a ‘Quality Assurance Certificate’ annually. This certificate must be presented to MahaRERA at the end of each financial year and published on the developers’ websites, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
The ‘Quality Assurance Certificate’ will assess various critical factors that influence the quality of construction. These include the project’s structural integrity, stability, material quality, workforce expertise, and safety measures such as fire resistance and earthquake readiness. This initiative follows the amendment of the MahaRERA General Regulations, 2017, with the new MahaRERA General (Amendment) Regulations, 2024, now in effect across Maharashtra.
Developers are now required to verify the quality details provided by the project’s engineers and supervisors before making the certificate public. This step is intended to improve the overall quality of residences and reduce the need for post-possession defect repairs.
Under the existing regulations, developers are obligated to address any construction defects within five years of possession, at no cost to the homebuyer. MahaRERA has emphasized that the introduction of this certification aims to prevent such defects from occurring in the first place. The regulatory body had earlier issued a consultation paper in December 2023 to establish standardized quality procedures, followed by a draft circular in April 2024 that was open for public feedback. The final framework was developed after considering input from industry experts and stakeholders.
Moving forward, developers must maintain stringent quality control throughout all stages of construction. The certificate will require developers to address key aspects such as soil testing before finalizing structural designs, appointing structural engineers, maintaining records of quality control measures, and ensuring compliance with Bureau of Indian Standards and National Building Code regulations.
In addition, developers must document the use of approved materials like cement, steel, and electrical components, as well as safety measures to prevent issues like water leakage and dampness. The involvement of third-party inspectors in quality checks during and after construction should also be recorded and certified.
The responsibility to verify and endorse the information in the ‘Quality Assurance Certificate’ lies with the developer, further strengthening their role in ensuring construction quality.
MahaRERA Chairman Ajoy Mehta commented on the initiative, stating, “Quality is a critical focus across all industries, and housing is no exception. While the defect liability period offers protection to consumers, our goal is to raise construction standards to a level where such protections are rarely needed.”
Mehta further explained that the introduction of the ‘Quality Assurance Certificate’ aims to elevate the overall construction benchmarks. “By publicly sharing these details, developers will be held to higher standards, which will ultimately benefit homebuyers by providing them with higher-quality homes.”
This new regulation marks a pivotal step in MahaRERA’s ongoing efforts to ensure that the housing sector in Maharashtra meets rigorous quality standards, fostering greater trust between developers and homebuyers.
