The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) plans to launch its long-awaited rental housing portal by the end of November, starting with more than 500 unsold flats from its housing lotteries in Mumbai, the Free Press Journal reported.
The portal will let prospective tenants see property details — location, rent and facilities — online, and is meant to reduce the city's dependence on brokers and middlemen, lowering brokerage costs and making the search for a home more transparent.
A single window for tenants and landlords
MHADA intends the platform to work as one digital interface for tenants and landlords and to link it with other services over time. An e-court facility to settle rental disputes is being developed for the portal.
A recent government notification designates Divisional Commissioners of Police as the competent authorities for rental housing disputes in Mumbai, and MHADA is working towards handling such disputes through the portal.
Private developers may join
MHADA is also exploring whether private developers' vacant or unsold homes can be listed for rent on the platform, and has held discussions with the developers' bodies CREDAI-MCHI and NAREDCO.
Part of a wider rental push for MMR
The portal is one piece of the state government's effort to build a formal rental market in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Under the proposed rental housing policy:
- 30–40% of homes in MMR housing projects could be earmarked for rent
- Rent of up to ₹15,000 a month is proposed for homes of up to 400 sq ft
- Incentives would encourage private developers to participate
- Affordable rental homes are envisaged within about 15 minutes of railway and Metro stations, aimed at working professionals, students and migrant workers
MHADA has not yet announced eligibility criteria, the application process or the rents for the first batch of flats. Bombay Times Group will update this story when the portal opens.
