Pune: Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has initiated a statewide verification of 2,600 occupancy certificates (OCs) submitted by developers on its official portal. These certificates have been sent to respective planning authorities to ensure authenticity and prevent discrepancies or forgery, officials said on Saturday.The crackdown stems from 2022 Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) scam, in which 65 illegal buildings were constructed using forged documents, including fake 7/12 extracts (land records), fabricated building plans, and counterfeit MahaRERA registrations. The scam led to the arrest of 15 people, including developers and agents, and a Bombay High Court-ordered demolition drive that displaced over 6,500 residents.“Many developers have uploaded OCs on MahaRERA portal. We are verifying these with the respective planning authorities,” a senior MahaRERA official said. The OCs serve as completion certificates for real estate project.As per an earlier directive by the state’s urban development department (UDD), verified commencement certificates (CCs), building plans, and OCs issued to developers must be sent by the planning authorities to MahaRERA’s designated email if their websites are not integrated. While many developers have submitted CCs and building plans, OCs are often not uploaded by them.So far, only 136 OCs have been verified by the authorities, with the remaining still under process. Officials said integration of local authority websites with MahaRERA portal would have significantly expedited the process.“We’ve been pushing for website integration for months. Only Mumbai’s municipal corporation has completed integration. Others have cited technical issues, which are now being addressed by the Maharashtra IT department,” the official added.MahaRERA is also checking whether the submitted certificates indicate full or partial occupancy, after several instances of developers misrepresenting partial OCs as full approvals to mislead homebuyers. “While developers upload these certificates, we want to be doubly sure,” the official said.MahaRERA has instructed planning authorities to verify OCs within a stipulated timeline. If no response is received within that period, the certificates will be deemed valid by default. However, any discrepancies found later will make the concerned authorities fully liable. “Homebuyers must have access to verified commencement and occupancy certificates before making a purchase decision. This verification drive is critical to restoring trust in Maharashtra’s real estate sector,” said a MahaRERA official.Many homebuyers complain that while project details are available through MahaRERA registration number, OCs are often missing. “Builders diligently upload CCs and building plans, but frequently skip uploading OCs, and local authorities don’t follow up with them,” an official noted.A Pune-based homebuyer said the developer claimed to possess an OC, but it wasn’t available on the MahaRERA website. “It’s confusing for buyers. The verification process should be simplified,” said Priya P, a first-time investor.Under MahaRERA norms, developers must register projects before selling units, submit quarterly progress and financial reports, and upload verified OCs before withdrawing project funds from escrow accounts. This verification drive is seen as a key step in strengthening regulatory compliance and protecting buyers from fraud, added an official.Pune: Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has initiated a statewide verification of 2,600 occupancy certificates (OCs) submitted by developers on its official portal. These certificates have been sent to respective planning authorities to ensure authenticity and prevent discrepancies or forgery, officials said on Saturday.The crackdown stems from 2022 Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) scam, in which 65 illegal buildings were constructed using forged documents, including fake 7/12 extracts (land records), fabricated building plans, and counterfeit MahaRERA registrations. The scam led to the arrest of 15 people, including developers and agents, and a Bombay High Court-ordered demolition drive that displaced over 6,500 residents.“Many developers have uploaded OCs on MahaRERA portal. We are verifying these with the respective planning authorities,” a senior MahaRERA official said. The OCs serve as completion certificates for real estate project.As per an earlier directive by the state’s urban development department (UDD), verified commencement certificates (CCs), building plans, and OCs issued to developers must be sent by the planning authorities to MahaRERA’s designated email if their websites are not integrated. While many developers have submitted CCs and building plans, OCs are often not uploaded by them.So far, only 136 OCs have been verified by the authorities, with the remaining still under process. Officials said integration of local authority websites with MahaRERA portal would have significantly expedited the process.“We’ve been pushing for website integration for months. Only Mumbai’s municipal corporation has completed integration. Others have cited technical issues, which are now being addressed by the Maharashtra IT department,” the official added.MahaRERA is also checking whether the submitted certificates indicate full or partial occupancy, after several instances of developers misrepresenting partial OCs as full approvals to mislead homebuyers. “While developers upload these certificates, we want to be doubly sure,” the official said.MahaRERA has instructed planning authorities to verify OCs within a stipulated timeline. If no response is received within that period, the certificates will be deemed valid by default. However, any discrepancies found later will make the concerned authorities fully liable. “Homebuyers must have access to verified commencement and occupancy certificates before making a purchase decision. This verification drive is critical to restoring trust in Maharashtra’s real estate sector,” said a MahaRERA official.Many homebuyers complain that while project details are available through MahaRERA registration number, OCs are often missing. “Builders diligently upload CCs and building plans, but frequently skip uploading OCs, and local authorities don’t follow up with them,” an official noted.A Pune-based homebuyer said the developer claimed to possess an OC, but it wasn’t available on the MahaRERA website. “It’s confusing for buyers. The verification process should be simplified,” said Priya P, a first-time investor.Under MahaRERA norms, developers must register projects before selling units, submit quarterly progress and financial reports, and upload verified OCs before withdrawing project funds from escrow accounts. This verification drive is seen as a key step in strengthening regulatory compliance and protecting buyers from fraud, added an official.
