How to check a builder's MahaRERA complaints before booking a flat in Pune

Most people shopping for a flat in Pune look at the builder's website, visit the sales office, see the sample flat and read Google reviews. Before booking, however, they should ask one more question: what complaints have buyers filed with MahaRERA against this builder or its project? Very few buyers search MahaRERA's complaint database.

MahaRERA's official complaint search facility lets users search by complaint number, respondent name, project name and project registration number. Filters for date, complaint category or status, and district or division are also available. Complaints on registered projects, complaints on unregistered projects and complaint conciliation are kept as separate categories. It is not necessary to know the complaint number beforehand; a search can start from the builder's or project's name.

First, search by the builder's name, but use the name of the legal promoter company rather than the brand name. A large developer may have different companies or project entities for different projects, so the promoter's name should be taken from MahaRERA's project record. Next, search by the exact project name, because a search on the builder's name also brings up complaints on its other projects. The third search should be by registration number. Project names can be similar, and there can be Phase 1, Phase 2, Tower A, Tower B or several registrations. If the results of all three searches are broadly similar, confidence in the record being correct rises. If they differ widely, the reason should be found.

Do not decide on the count alone. Suppose Developer A has 100 complaints and Developer B has 10. A may have 10,000 apartments, with most complaints being separate payment disputes that have been settled. B may have 500 apartments, with several serious disputes pending in a single project. So do not count complaints; understand them. Receiving a complaint does not mean the builder has been proved guilty. A complaint is an allegation or an objection. An order is MahaRERA's decision or direction. An order may grant relief, dismiss the claim, grant partial relief, issue directions, or record a settlement and refund. The outcome should be read only by opening the order. Conciliation is not a final decision.

For each complaint, note six things: who the complainant is, which legal company is the respondent, which project is involved, what the dispute was, what MahaRERA decided, and whether the matter is disposed of, pending or resolved. Write these down. Watch for patterns. If 15 complaints turn up and all concern delayed possession, that may point to a problem in completing work. If 12 are separate refund disputes and three are frivolous, the meaning will be different. If similar complaints appear across several projects, more attention is warranted.

Look at the builder's entire Pune record, including older projects. For example, if you are considering a new project in Kharadi, search by the builder's full name rather than only that project. A new project may have fewer complaints because it was launched recently. But a complaint against one project should not automatically be pinned on another. Check the age of a complaint; a complaint from 2018 is not the same as one from 2026. Also consider the phase the project was in. Where there are several respondents, such as the promoter, an agent or a channel partner, do not attribute every allegation to the developer. Even if there are very few complaints, do not be complacent: the builder may be new, or you may have searched under the wrong name.

If complaints turn up, do not accuse the builder; ask direct questions instead, such as what caused the possession delay in an old project and what has been changed in the current one. Finally, visit the flat's site, have a lawyer review the agreement, and then decide. MahaRERA records and case status can change, so check the latest information on MahaRERA's official portal. This information is for general consumer awareness and is not legal, financial or investment advice.