The Maharashtra government has established a high-level committee in Mumbai to devise a uniform framework for recording the names of individual apartment owners in official land records. The initiative is aimed at simplifying property transactions, easing access to home loans, and accelerating redevelopment projects in the state’s densely populated urban areas.
Currently, most apartment owners hold documents such as sale deeds and housing society share certificates, but their names are not recorded in the 7/12 extract or Property Register Cards, which form the legal record of land ownership. “This gap often complicates mortgage approvals, delays redevelopment, and can trigger legal disputes,” an official said.
Under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, property rights are recorded under Sections 149 to 151. However, the system presently captures only the land-holding entity typically a cooperative society or developer rather than individual apartment holders. Practices vary across districts, resulting in inconsistencies for multi-storeyed properties, the government noted in a resolution issued on 30 October.
The newly formed committee is chaired by the additional chief secretary (Revenue), with members including officials from urban development, cooperation, law, rural development, registration, and land records. Its mandate is to propose clear rules for incorporating individual apartment ownership into land records while defining how common areas, amenities, and underlying land are documented. The panel has been asked to submit recommendations within one month.
Industry experts welcome the move, highlighting its potential to improve transparency and unlock stalled redevelopment projects in Mumbai’s older housing stock. “Standardising apartment ownership in land records will streamline property financing and reduce legal ambiguities,” an urban property consultant said.The committee will also examine frameworks adopted by other Indian states for registering vertical property ownership, aligning its recommendations with the forthcoming vertical property rules. These rules are particularly critical for Mumbai, where most residential units are located in stacked apartments rather than horizontal plots.
Officials emphasise that once implemented, the reform will benefit citizens by making property transactions more straightforward and secure. Banks will be able to verify ownership more efficiently, while developers and society members can resolve disputes over common areas and maintenance responsibilities.The initiative aligns with broader urban governance goals, fostering equitable and transparent property systems while supporting sustainable city redevelopment. By formalising apartment ownership in official records, Maharashtra aims to modernise its land registry, reduce procedural bottlenecks, and provide a reliable legal framework for the state’s rapidly urbanising landscape.
Mumbai Government Forms Committee To Record Flat Owners Names In Land Records
