Pune, October 14, 2026: The Maharashtra government has imposed restrictions on the registration of sale deeds and other property documents involving unauthorized buildings and flats constructed beyond approved plans. The Revenue Department issued a circular on October 12, 2026, directing sub-registrars across the state to enforce the new requirements. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced the measures on October 13, stating that the government aims to prevent illegal property sales and protect homebuyers from financial losses.
Maharashtra Revenue Department Issues Directions to Sub-Registrars
The Maharashtra Revenue Department has instructed sub-registrars to refuse registration of specified property documents when construction approvals are missing or the area of a flat exceeds the sanctioned building plan.
The circular follows a September 22, 2026, meeting chaired by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule to address irregularities in residential construction and property transactions.
The restrictions cover agreements for the first sale of flats, sale deeds, deeds of apartment, and transfer documents relating to construction projects that fail to meet the prescribed requirements.
The decision follows reports of unauthorized residential buildings, construction in areas not designated for housing, projects operating without mandatory MahaRERA registration, and flats being sold with areas exceeding approved limits.
Sub-registrars must examine the prescribed supporting documents before completing registration. The Revenue Department has also warned that officials who knowingly register documents in violation of the instructions may face departmental inquiries.
New Registration Requirements for Builders and Developers
The Maharashtra government has introduced stricter documentation requirements for developers seeking to register the first sale of flats.
For projects requiring registration with the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) under Section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, the reported requirements include a MahaRERA registration certificate or occupancy certificate, along with the sanctioned building plan specifying the flat's approved area.
For projects exempt from MahaRERA registration, the required documents include construction permission or a commencement certificate issued by the competent authority, the sanctioned building plan, a zoning certificate, and a measurement or survey plan.
A significant provision concerns discrepancies between the area specified in a property transaction and the area approved by the planning authority.
Under the circular, sub-registrars must refuse registration when the flat's area mentioned in the transaction document exceeds the area permitted in the sanctioned building plan, even if other required documents have been submitted.
The restrictions are directed at transactions involving unauthorized construction and noncompliant documentation rather than imposing a blanket ban on all property registrations in Maharashtra.
Unauthorized Buildings May Face Regularization or Demolition Action
The government has also outlined action against buildings constructed in violation of the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR), applicable development plans, or regional planning regulations.
According to the reported directions, flats in such unauthorized buildings cannot be sold directly unless the buildings undergo regularization, wherever legally permissible.
Structures that qualify for regularization must follow the prescribed legal procedure before the affected flats can be sold.
Buildings that cannot legally be regularized will continue to be treated as unauthorized and may face demolition proceedings by the competent authorities.
The government's directions distinguish between construction violations that can be legally rectified and those for which regularization is not permitted. The announcement does not mean that every unauthorized building will automatically be demolished.
What the Decision Means for Maharashtra Homebuyers
The Maharashtra property registration restrictions are intended to reduce the financial risks associated with purchasing flats in buildings that lack statutory approvals or violate sanctioned construction plans.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the government had acted to prevent situations in which homebuyers purchase flats in good faith and subsequently discover that the construction is unauthorized.
Reports of such irregularities have emerged from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Thane, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Haveli, Mulshi, Nagpur, and other urban areas of Maharashtra.
The revised registration requirements place greater responsibility on developers to present the necessary approvals and on registration authorities to examine the documents before completing eligible transactions.
Properties with missing statutory permissions, unauthorized construction, or discrepancies between the documented flat area and sanctioned plans may encounter registration restrictions.
The government's stated objective is to prevent the registration of noncompliant property transactions before buyers are exposed to potential financial losses.
Under the October 12 circular, sub-registrars must enforce the prescribed checks, while officials who deliberately disregard the instructions face possible departmental action.
Get Your Property Verified with Legal Assure
Legal Assure from Pune is a leading platform for property-related legal services in Pune. The platform assists homebuyers with property title searches, ownership record reviews, document verification, and legal due diligence before property transactions. With Maharashtra introducing stricter registration requirements for unauthorized constructions, reviewing property documents and approvals has become especially important. Legal Assure offers property verification in Pune and sale deed registration services in Pune to help buyers understand relevant legal documentation and registration requirements. Contact Legal Assure for professional assistance before proceeding with a property purchase.
