September 19, 2025: Thousands of homebuyers have been left disappointed after the Mumbai Board of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) confirmed that its annual housing lottery will not take place this year. Traditionally held during Diwali, the 2025 draw was expected to offer around 5,000 affordable homes to city residents.
Initial expectations were that the lottery would be announced around the festive season, but officials have now clarified that no preparations have been undertaken for the scheme. The reason, sources said, is the limited stock of houses currently available for allocation. As a result, the much-anticipated draw has been pushed to early 2026.
MHADA Vice-Chairman Sanjeev Jaiswal stated that the Mumbai Board is working towards holding the next lottery in March or April 2026. “The lottery will be conducted once adequate housing stock is available,” he confirmed.
The annual housing lottery has long been a vital scheme for Mumbaikars aspiring to own homes at subsidised rates. Between 2006 and 2019, the lottery was conducted consistently every year. However, it was suspended between 2020 and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme resumed in 2023 and 2024, rekindling hopes for affordable housing in one of the country’s most expensive property markets.
This year’s deferment marks another setback for thousands who had been waiting eagerly for the announcement. The Mumbai Board’s lottery remains one of the few opportunities for middle-income families to access affordable housing in the city.
With the draw now postponed, aspiring homeowners will have to wait until 2026, when MHADA is expected to announce details of the revised scheme, including the number of flats and eligibility criteria.
Source: Times Now
