September 19, 2025: The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) is preparing to roll out an independent rental housing policy for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), aimed at supporting the housing needs of economically weaker sections.
According to officials, the draft policy will be ready within a month and presented before the MHADA authority for approval before being sent to the state government for clearance. Initially, the scheme will be launched in the MMR, where demand is the highest, and later extended across Maharashtra. Rising property prices in Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai have made home ownership increasingly difficult for low-income groups, intensifying the need for rental options.
“MHADA is preparing a comprehensive rental housing policy for the entire state, with priority implementation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The policy will cover allotment rules, rent structure, and maintenance responsibilities, and the draft will be ready within a month,” said Sanjeev Jaiswal, Vice President, MHADA.
The policy will involve both MHADA and private developers in creating rental housing stock. It will also set out rent models and maintenance mechanisms. With the Union government’s plan to position MMR as an international growth hub, officials anticipate a surge in population due to rising job and educational opportunities, making rental housing a priority in the development framework.
In addition, MHADA is pushing for group redevelopment projects across Mumbai, including colonies and cess-based buildings, to generate a larger housing stock and provide more spacious homes for existing residents.
Meanwhile, MHADA has postponed its Mumbai housing lottery, initially planned for Diwali, to March–April 2026 due to insufficient stock. The delay also takes into account upcoming civic elections and the model code of conduct.
Separately, MHADA has launched “MHADASathi,” an AI-powered chatbot to provide residents and applicants with simplified access to housing information.
Source: The Indian Express
