The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has announced comprehensive regulations and specifications for retirement and senior citizen housing, applicable across Maharashtra. These guidelines, detailed in a recent circular, focus on essential aspects such as building design, green building principles, lifts & ramps and safety and security. Compliance with these minimum physical specifications is mandatory for executing these projects. Developers will now need to incorporate these provisions in the agreement for sale, as the regulation takes effect across Maharashtra. Previously, in February, MahaRERA had issued a circular on draft model guidelines for retirement and senior citizen housing projects, inviting suggestions and views from stakeholders. The positive response led to the inclusion of several useful suggestions, enhancing and strengthening the final guidelines. The draft guidelines were based on model guidelines issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. MahaRERA's objective is to ensure a standardised code for all senior citizens’ housing projects, according to officials. Key provisions include the requirement for all buildings with more than one floor to have an elevator accessible for wheelchairs and mobility equipment. Internal and external building designs that facilitate the free movement of wheelchairs, including ramps, door openings not less than 900 mm with a preference for sliding doors, lifts equipped with audio-visual signage, at least one elevator large enough to accommodate a stretcher and paramedic staff, and staircases with a width of not less than 1500 mm, among others. These guidelines are now in effect in the state. Any future project proposal for senior citizen housing must comply with these guidelines during implementation, MahaRERA states.
