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Business
Mumbai Homebuyers Face Hurdles in Enforcing MahaRERA Refund Orders
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 17 Oct 2026, 09:16 AM
👁 10
Homebuyers in Mumbai and across Maharashtra are finding it difficult to enforce refund orders issued by the state real‑estate regulator, MahaRERA.
Homebuyers in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra are reporting significant obstacles when trying to execute refund orders that the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has issued against delayed or cancelled projects. The regulator, created to protect buyers and ensure transparency in the real‑estate sector, can direct developers to return the amounts paid by purchasers, but the enforcement mechanism appears weak.
Buyers say that many developers contest the orders in courts, file appeals, or simply stall payments, leaving the aggrieved parties waiting for months without relief. The lack of a dedicated enforcement wing within MahaRERA forces consumers to pursue separate legal actions, adding to their financial and emotional burden.
Consumer advocacy groups have highlighted the issue, urging the state government to strengthen the regulator’s powers and streamline the process for executing refund orders. Until such measures are introduced, homebuyers are likely to continue facing delays and uncertainty despite having a formal order in their favour.
The situation underscores a broader challenge in India's real‑estate market, where regulatory orders often clash with protracted legal battles, leaving ordinary buyers caught in the cross‑fire.
Buyers say that many developers contest the orders in courts, file appeals, or simply stall payments, leaving the aggrieved parties waiting for months without relief. The lack of a dedicated enforcement wing within MahaRERA forces consumers to pursue separate legal actions, adding to their financial and emotional burden.
Consumer advocacy groups have highlighted the issue, urging the state government to strengthen the regulator’s powers and streamline the process for executing refund orders. Until such measures are introduced, homebuyers are likely to continue facing delays and uncertainty despite having a formal order in their favour.
The situation underscores a broader challenge in India's real‑estate market, where regulatory orders often clash with protracted legal battles, leaving ordinary buyers caught in the cross‑fire.