Maharashtra Mulls Law To Mandate Rent Payments For Tenants In Stalled Redevelopment Projects

The Maharashtra government is positively considering bringing a new law to make rent payments mandatory for tenants affected by delayed redevelopment projects, Industries Minister Uday Samant said in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. He was responding to a calling attention motion raised by MLA Mihir Kotecha.

Minister Samant stated that in Mumbai, several redevelopment projects of dilapidated buildings are initiated but remain incomplete for years, causing serious hardships to tenants. Many residents awaiting rehabilitation do not receive their entitled monthly rent on time. To expedite the redevelopment of both cess and non-cess buildings, the government has approved amendments to the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR).

As per the amended provisions, eligible tenants in cess-affected properties are entitled to a minimum 300 sq. ft. rehabilitation unit. If a tenant previously occupied a unit larger than 300 sq. ft., they will be eligible to receive a unit of equal size or up to a maximum of 120 square meters, free of cost, in the new building. If the occupied area exceeds 120 sq. meters, the tenant or resident will be required to bear the construction cost of the additional area.

The Minister also clarified that only up to 120 sq. meters will be considered in the rehabilitation area, and any area beyond that will not be eligible for incentive FSI (Floor Space Index). These provisions have been included in the Brihanmumbai Development Control and Promotion Regulations.

Under these provisions, redevelopment of dilapidated and dangerous buildings with tenants will now allow for official rehabilitation areas for existing tenants along with an additional 50% incentive FSI. All eligible tenants will be granted the right to receive a minimum 300 sq. ft. flat in the new redevelopment scheme.