MahaRERA Rules: Accepting Flat Without Protest Forfeits Delay Claim

The family also claimed the builder failed to provide promised common amenities. MahaRERA rejected that argument too. The homebuyers had submitted no photographs, documents, or other evidence to support the allegation.

The ruling came on July 2, 2026.

For homebuyers, the decision sets a clear legal marker. Accepting possession without a formal handover letter and without recording objections at the time can block any later claim under RERA, even if the delay was significant. The authority noted that Section 18 does not prescribe a limitation period, but grievances must be raised before the project is completed and possession is accepted – not at a date of the buyer's choosing.

The family had made partial payments even before signing the agreement and continued paying afterward. They made a payment on March 10, 2025, just days before possession. The builder allegedly did not issue receipts, but the family still took the keys without protest.

Real estate investors tracking RERA litigation will watch for whether this reasoning is tested on appeal. If upheld, it strengthens the incentive for buyers to formally document every handover issue the day they take possession. A written complaint at that point – even if the keys are accepted – could preserve the right to claim later. Without it, the ruling suggests, the delay claim dies.