MahaRERA issues draft guidelines for senior citizen homes: Find out design requirements for lifts, kitchen, bathrooms and more

The draft, ‘Regulation of Retirement Homes’, has been uploaded on MahaRERA’s website, seeking suggestions. These can be emailed to suggestions.maharera@gmail.com by February 29.

MahaRERA chairman Ajoy Mehta said retired and senior housing projects are becoming necessary for the changing society, but many constructions do not take into account the basic needs of this segment. “To avoid possible fraud and disappointment of retirees/senior citizens, MahaRERA has issued the draft model guidelines for this emerging segment of housing projects. MahaRERA is endeavouring towards finalising and implementing the framework at the earliest,” said Mehta.

Once the guidelines are enforced, developers must incorporate specific provisions in the agreement for sale and other relevant documents, and build such housing projects adhering to the guidelines.

The model guidelines were formulated in response to feedback received by MahaRERA indicating that many developers were falsely advertising their projects as ‘retirement homes’. It was also noted that several projects failed to meet the minimum standards and specifications required for senior citizen residences.

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) had also issued model guidelines, asking state regulators to take appropriate measures to implement them.

Some of the provisions included in the draft model guidelines are as follows:

• A building of more than one floor should have an elevator.
• All lifts should have an audio-visual system.
• Easy wheelchair access to enter and exit the lift.
• Mandatory ramps for unhindered wheelchair access.
• Doors should be larger than 900 mm, preferably sliding doors.
• Furniture provided should be light in weight, sturdy and without sharp edges.
• The width of the stairs should not be less than 1500 mm.
• Handrails should be fitted on both sides of the staircase.
• There should not be a fully open and spiral staircase – staircase should not have more than 12 steps.
• Building corridors should not have any steps.
• Ramps should also be provided wherever necessary.
• Handles should also be placed at a specific height for convenience – Wherever there is a difference in the level, there should be an
• indication in easily noticeable bold colour.
• The kitchen should have a gas leak detection system.
• The bathroom should have a wash basin with grab rails.
• Bathrooms must have anti-skid tiles.
• Toilet doors should open outwards.
• There should be a backup arrangement for electricity.