MahaRERA Complaint Filing — Step-by-Step Guide for Allottees and Advocates (2026)

Three documents govern a MahaRERA complaint and are routinely cited in orders:

1. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 — the central Act. Substantive rights (Section 18 refund/interest, Section 14 sanctioned plans, etc.) come from here.
2. The Maharashtra Real Estate (Regulation and Development) (Registration of real estate projects, Registration of real estate agents, rates of interest and disclosures on website) Rules, 2017 ("State Rules") — set the rate of interest (SBI's highest MCLR + 2%), the registration forms and fees.
3. The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority Regulations, 2017 ("Regulations") — set the complaint forms (Form A for allottee complaints, Form B for advocate complaints, etc.), the filing fee (₹5,000 per complaint), and the procedure for hearings.

Reg. 6 of the 2017 Regulations is the operating provision for filing. The form is electronic only — paper filings are not accepted post-2020.

Filing happens at maharerait.maharashtra.gov.in (note the "it" — the integrated portal, not the older maharera.mahaonline.gov.in which has been deprecated). Step-by-step:

1. Create an account — register as an individual (Aadhaar-linked OTP). Advocates can register as 'Authorized Representative' with Bar Council ID.
2. Select 'Complaint Registration' from the dashboard.
3. Fill Form A — fields include:

• Project name (search the MahaRERA registered-projects list to auto-fill the project ID — critical, do not type a free-text project name)
• Promoter name (auto-fills once project ID is selected)
• Allottee details (Aadhaar, PAN, address)
• Unit details (number, carpet area, agreement value)
• Brief facts of the case (1,500 characters max — be tight)
• Reliefs claimed (multi-select: refund, possession, interest, compensation, etc.)

1. Upload documents in PDF (max 10 MB each):

• Agreement for sale (mandatory)
• Payment proofs (mandatory)
• Interest computation sheet (recommended even though not mandatory)
• Builder correspondence

1. Pay the ₹5,000 fee via net-banking, UPI or debit card. Save the receipt.
2. Submit — the system generates a complaint number (format: CC005/...). Use this number for all future filings.

The first hearing notice arrives by SMS and email, usually 30-45 days after admission. MahaRERA conducts hearings in physical mode at the Bandra Kurla Complex office and in online mode (Zoom) for parties who request it.

At the first hearing:

1. Appearance — name and complaint number are called out. Advocate appears with vakalatnama. Allottee in person should carry an ID.
2. Reply timeline — the Authority issues a 21-day notice to the Respondent (builder) to file a reply. If the builder is present, the Authority can record their position on the spot.
3. Interim orders — the Authority can pass interim directions: status-quo on the unit, no further marketing, etc. These are rare but possible if the complainant pleads urgency.
4. Next date — typically 4-6 weeks out for the builder's reply + complainant's rejoinder, after which arguments are heard.

Pitfalls that lead to first-hearing dismissals or postponements:

• Project ID not selected from the registered list (treated as an incomplete filing).
• Agreement for sale not uploaded.
• Fee receipt missing.
• Complainant absent — MahaRERA increasingly takes a strict view; one absence is fine, two consecutive absences and the complaint may be dismissed for default.
• Multiple unit complaints clubbed in one filing — each unit needs a separate complaint and separate fee.
• Reliefs not specifically claimed in Form A — the Authority will not grant relief not pleaded.

Fees

• Complaint filing fee: ₹5,000 (one-time, per complaint, per unit).
• Adjudicating Officer compensation application: ₹1,000 (additional, if you also seek compensation).
• Appeal to REAT: ₹5,000.
• Certified copy of order: ₹50 per page (online download is free).

Statutory timelines

• Section 29(3): the Authority "shall, as far as possible, dispose of the application within a period of sixty days". In practice MahaRERA averages 6-9 months for orders, with complex matters running 12-15 months.
• Section 18 interest accrues throughout — the delay in adjudication does not prejudice the allottee.

Typical order structure (MahaRERA orders are usually 6-12 pages):

1. Facts and grievance
2. Reply of the Respondent (summary)
3. Issues for determination
4. Reasoning section-by-section
5. Operative part — usually directing payment with interest from a stated date, within 30/45/60 days, failing which recovery as arrears of land revenue under Section 40.
6. Liberty to apply for compensation to the Adjudicating Officer.

MahaRERA orders are public and searchable at maharerait.maharashtra.gov.in/MahaRERA/legalCases. Use this database to find similar matters before drafting your own complaint — citing two-three on-point MahaRERA orders in your complaint significantly improves the order quality.