Old building owners, tenants may get 3 months to appoint realtor

Mumbai: The upcoming redevelopment policy for dilapidated buildings is likely to have a clause that will empower owners as well as the society to appoint developers for the redevelopment of their premises, said government sources.

The recommendation for the clause came to the government in view of the fact that owners at times stall the redevelopment process of buildings. As per the clause that is being considered, Mhada (Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority) will first give owners the opportunity to appoint developers within three months but if they fail to do so, tenants will get the chance. If owners as well as the society fail to appoint a developer, Mhada will step in, taking over the redevelopment project, sources said.

A senior official from the state housing department said, “Most of the times, it is the owner of the building who disapproves of the redevelopment. The owner opts out if he/she is not getting the financial benefit. We do not want that the owner should be at a loss. So, as per this recommendation, a period of three months will be given to the owner to decide on the redevelopment.”

“If the owner fails to come to a decision within the stipulated time, the power will be passed on to the tenants, who will also be given three months' time to decide. If both fail, housing body Mhada will take over the project,” he said.

The recommendation has been given by one of the members of the state’s redevelopment committee. According to sources, it will be considered while preparing the final draft of the new redevelopment policy. The official said, “We are compiling all the recommendations; there are at least 50 to 60 of them. The final policy will be ready in the next two months.”

After the Hussaini building collapse, which claimed 33 lives at Bhendi Bazaar, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had introduced new rules in the policy to ensure speedy work of revamp of dilapidated buildings.