As a real estate agent in Maharashtra, understanding the distinction between RERA-registered and non-RERA projects is no longer optional—it is a compliance necessity that directly impacts your professional standing, client trust, and legal liability. The October 2024 MahaRERA Order No. 62/2024 has clarified exemption thresholds, while new 2025 advertising norms have introduced stricter disclosure requirements across all project categories. This article equips you with practical knowledge to navigate these obligations confidently.
MahaRERA Order No. 62/2024 established clear exemption criteria for projects that fall outside RERA's regulatory scope. A project is exempt from RERA registration if it satisfies either of these conditions:
This clarification matters because agents frequently encounter small residential developments, individual plots, or boutique projects that claim exemption status. The order provides certainty: if a project meets either threshold, it is legally exempt and should not be promoted as RERA-registered. Conversely, projects exceeding these limits must be registered with MahaRERA before any advertising or sales activity.
The distinction is not academic. Agents who misrepresent exemption status—or who fail to disclose exemption clearly—expose themselves to regulatory action, client disputes, and potential commission clawback. Your broker or employing company also bears responsibility for your compliance posture.
For projects registered with MahaRERA, your disclosure duties are extensive and non-negotiable. These obligations apply across all communication channels: face-to-face client meetings, digital marketing, social media, brochures, and advertisements.
1. Display the RERA Registration Number
Every advertisement, promotional material, and marketing collateral must prominently display the project's RERA registration number. This is not a courtesy—it is a compliance mandate. The registration number proves that the developer has filed detailed project information with MahaRERA, including the carpet area, common area, timeline, completion guarantee, and financials. When you display the number, you are indirectly assuring the client that this information exists in a public record they can independently verify.
Best practice: Place the registration number in a consistent, visible location on all materials. Use a font size and color that ensures legibility. Example format: "MahaRERA Registration No. P52100000XXX."
2. Include the Unique QR Code (New in 2025)
The 2025 advertising norms introduce a mandatory QR code requirement. This QR code links directly to the project's public record on the MahaRERA website, enabling clients to verify registration status, view the registered project details, and check the developer's track record and ongoing projects in real time. Including the QR code is your best defense against claims of misrepresentation: it facilitates transparency and empowers clients to self-verify.
Implementation: Ensure the QR code is clearly printed or displayed in all digital advertisements, websites, brochures, and point-of-sale materials. Test the QR code before publishing to confirm it directs to the correct project record. This small step prevents client frustration and builds credibility.
3. Disclose Carpet Area and Common Area Accurately
When discussing unit sizes or pricing, you must distinguish between carpet area (the actual usable living space) and built-up area (which includes walls, ducts, and common infrastructure). RERA mandates that carpet area be the primary metric for pricing. Many clients—especially first-time buyers—conflate carpet and built-up area, leading to disputes after purchase.
Your responsibility: Whenever you quote a unit size or per-square-meter price, explicitly state whether the figure refers to carpet area or built-up area. Provide both measurements. Example: "This 2-BHK unit has a carpet area of 650 sq m and a built-up area of 850 sq m. Pricing is calculated at ₹8,000 per sq m of carpet area."
4. Reveal Payment Schedule and Possession Timeline
Clients must know when they will possess their unit and when payments are due. The RERA registration record contains the developer's committed possession timeline. Do not encourage clients to rely on verbal promises or timeline estimates. Instead, direct them to the registered project details and help them understand the payment schedule published with MahaRERA.
Critical warning: If a developer is behind schedule or communicating revised timelines, this information must be shared with prospects immediately. Silence or optimistic verbal assurances expose you to complaints and potential disciplinary action.
Projects exempt under Order No. 62/2024 (≤500 sq m or ≤8 units) fall outside MahaRERA's regulatory umbrella. This does not mean you can market them without restriction. Instead, your obligations shift from RERA compliance to general consumer protection and state-level property law.
Clear Exemption Disclosure
When promoting an exempt project, you must explicitly inform clients that the project is not RERA-registered because it meets the exemption criteria. Use clear language: "This project is exempt from RERA registration as it comprises fewer than 8 units and covers less than 500 square meters." This statement protects you by preventing clients from assuming RERA-level protections apply.
Clients who believe they are buying into a RERA-protected project but later discover non-registration often pursue complaints against the agent, claiming misrepresentation. Proactive, transparent disclosure preempts these disputes.
Alternative Documentation and Verification
Since exempt projects are not registered with MahaRERA, clients lack access to a centralized public record. Your credibility depends on providing alternative assurances:
These steps create a paper trail demonstrating that you exercised due diligence before promoting the project. If a dispute arises later, this documentation shields you from allegations of negligence.
Risk Disclosure for Exempt Projects
Exempt projects carry inherent risks because they lack RERA oversight. There is no authority to enforce payment refunds, no guaranteed timeline compliance, and no neutral dispute resolution mechanism equivalent to RERA. Your disclosure should acknowledge this reality in client conversations and, where possible, in writing.
Example language: "This project is not RERA-registered. Clients are advised to conduct independent legal verification of title, approvals, and developer credibility. Consider engaging a lawyer to review all agreements before committing funds."
The stricter 2025 norms affect all projects—both RERA-registered and exempt. These standards govern digital advertisements, social media posts, brochures, billboards, and website listings.
Mandatory Elements in All Promotions
Digital Marketing Compliance
Social media, website listings, and email campaigns must meet the same standards as print materials. Real estate portals and classified websites now enforce these requirements, so ensure your agency's listings include registration numbers and QR codes at the point of upload.
Pitfall 1: Marketing an Exempt Project as RERA-Registered
Some agents—inadvertently or deliberately—list exempt projects on RERA-compliant portals or claim RERA protection where none exists. This invites complaints and potential action against your agency.
Pitfall 2: Omitting the QR Code Despite 2025 Requirements
Clients increasingly expect to verify claims independently. A missing QR code signals either technical negligence or an attempt to hide something. Always include it.
Pitfall 3: Misrepresenting Carpet Area
Quoting inflated built-up area figures as carpet area is a common source of client complaints post-registration. It damages your reputation and invites regulatory scrutiny.
Pitfall 4: Providing Timeline Guarantees You Cannot Honor
Never promise faster possession than stated in MahaRERA records or assure completion dates without developer confirmation. Clients will hold you accountable for any deviation.
Pitfall 5: Neglecting Due Diligence on Exempt Projects
Simply accepting a developer's word that a project is legitimate is insufficient. Verify title, approvals, and developer credentials before marketing. This diligence protects both your client and your professional license.
Maintain detailed records of all communications with clients regarding RERA status, registration details, and disclosure provided. Keep copies of advertisements with registration numbers and QR codes. If a client later disputes claims you made, these records demonstrate your compliance posture.
Specifically, retain:
This documentation becomes invaluable if a complaint is filed against you or your broker. It demonstrates professional care and transparency.
RERA regulations and advertising norms evolve. Subscribe to MahaRERA updates, attend continuing education sessions, and maintain open communication with your broker about policy changes. Your certification depends on current knowledge and consistent application of these principles.
As a RERA-certified agent, you are a gatekeeper between developers and consumers. Your disclosure duties protect clients, build market confidence, and establish you as a trustworthy professional. Compliance is not a burden—it is your competitive advantage.
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