In a first for a housing regulator in India, the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has floated draft model guidelines for housing projects for retired and senior citizens. The aim is to ensure that senior citizens have the required facilities after they move into the retirement housing projects.
Once the guidelines are implemented, the developers will have to include some special provisions in the Agreement for Sale and other relevant documents. The draft, ‘Regulation of Retirement Homes, is available on MahaRERA’s website. Suggestions and views can be sent to ‘[email protected]’ by February 29.
The model guidelines were drafted after MahaRERA received feedback that developers are wrongly advertising their real estate projects as “retirement homes”, misleading prospective allottees. It has also been brought to MahaRERA’s notice that several projects do not adhere to the bare minimum standards and specifications required for senior citizen residences.
Earlier, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) had issued Model Guidelines. The Ministry had suggested that the respective State Regulators should take appropriate steps to introduce the regulations. Accordingly, MahaRERA has formulated a draft regulation on retired homes.
KEY PROVISIONS
The draft also details the minimum physical criteria that every project must meet, including the building’s construction norms. The minimum physical specification includes Building Design, Green Building Principles, Lifts and Ramps, Staircase, Corridors, Lighting and Ventilation, Safety and Security.
The said draft has important provisions such as:
- A building of more than one floor should have an elevator
- All lifts should have audio visual system
- Easy wheelchair access to enter and exit the lift
- Mandatory ramps for unhindered wheelchair access
- Doors should be larger than 900 mm, preferably, sliding doors
- Furniture provided should be light in weight, sturdy and without sharp edges
- Width of stairs should not be less than 1500 mm
- Handrails should be fitted on both sides of the staircase
- There should not be a fully open and spiral staircase
- Staircase should not have over 12 steps
- Building corridors should not have any steps
- Ramps should also be provided wherever necessary
- Handles should also be placed at a specific height for convenience
- Wherever there is a difference in the level, there should be an indication in easily noticeable bold colour
- Kitchen should have gas leak detection system
- Bathroom should have a wash basin with provision for grab rails
- Bathrooms must have anti-skid tiles
- Toilet door should open outwards
- There should backup arrangement for electricity.
OFFICIALSPEAK
MahaRERA Chief Ajoy Mehta said, “Retired, senior housing projects are necessity for a changing society. Many developers launch such projects given the rising demand, but these constructions do not seem to take into account the basic needs of this segment. To avoid possible fraud and disappointment of retirees/senior citizens, MahaRERA has issued Draft Model Guidelines for this emerging segment of housing projects. MahaRERA is endeavouring towards finalising the framework and implementing them at the earliest.”
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