Won the MHADA lottery? Check the fine print

The housing development authority says local authorities will be responsible for water and electricity supply for the flats being allotted through its lottery

A cursory look at the advertisements for the 997 MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority) homes up for sale in this year’s lottery makes it evident that the state housing authority sounds more like a canny Mumbai builder.

Also read: MHADA goes the builder way, sells on built-up area

Work in progress on a MHADA building near Virar. File pic

For instance, clause number five in the advertisement says that water and electricity supply are made available by the local authorities. It explains that if there is a delay in these services, it may take “considerable time” to provide them under these schemes.

Clause two of the ad states that there are chances that the area and price of a flat won in the housing lottery may change. So, if you win a house in a lottery, MHADA can charge you extra money or give you a smaller house than promised.

Also read: 3,000 MHADA flats up for grabs this year, through two lotteries

All these are regular practices that local builders adopt. MHADA can even change the number of tenements it offers the clause states that the number of houses may also come down from the authority’s original number. There have been instances in the past where MHADA handed over flats to winning candidates, but without water supply.

The clauses under the ‘Special Instructions’ section of the ad, as per senior officials from MHADA, are an outcome of past experiences. In the 2010 MHADA lottery, flats in Ghatkopar didn’t get water for a long period. The year after, people who got houses in Shimpoli, Kandivli did not get possession as the authority couldn’t get occupation certificates (OCs) for the building.

Also read: Homes to be cheaper in upcoming MHADA lottery

S S Zende, CEO, MHADA said, “This year we are coordinating with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and have told them that this (water supply) should happen within one or two months.”

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