Just 195 properties in the state have created the grievance redressal cell, despite the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority's mandate for real estate developers to do so for their individual developments.

In order to address the complaints of homeowners, the regulator has reviewed the matter and is currently preparing to take legal action against the developers who have disregarded the August 2023 mandate. These cells must have at least one complaint redressal officer assigned to them in accordance with the regulator's mandate. Adherence to this clause will be a crucial factor in the suggested assessment of projects by the regulatory body.

Ajoy Mehta, chairman of MahaRERA, emphasised the necessity of establishing trust in the service sector for business growth. He noted that while the construction sector has traditionally been perceived as a product sector, it is increasingly evolving into a service sector. Mehta stated that it is crucial to implement a grievance redressal mechanism at this juncture. MahaRERA has instructed all projects to establish a grievance redressal cell and urged stakeholders to take swift action to enhance the sector's credibility.

It was pointed out that homebuyers typically engage with the sales and marketing teams during property transactions. However, they often lack awareness of project-specific mechanisms to address issues that may arise later. This leads to delays in resolving complaints, resulting in misunderstandings and grievances even after project completion. The absence of effective communication can impact project timelines.

The regulator emphasised that if developers establish dedicated grievance redressal cells for their projects, it would help manage issues effectively by providing timely and reliable information to complainants. Furthermore, MahaRERA mandated that details of the redressal cell, including officers' names and contact information, should be prominently displayed at project sites and on developers' websites.