Maharashtra Govt Plans Affordable Rental Housing System for Mumbai Migrants

New policy aims to provide easy access to rental homes with online portal and faster dispute resolution

Mumbai: People moving to Mumbai for jobs or business may soon find it easier to get affordable rental housing. In a major step, the Mahayuti government is planning to introduce a new rental housing system to support migrants coming from other cities and states.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed officials to create a proper system that ensures people can find reasonably priced rental homes. He has also asked for a dedicated online portal that will make it easier for citizens to search and apply for rental accommodation.

The proposal was discussed at a high-level meeting held at the Sahyadri State Guest House, where the state’s rental housing policy was reviewed. During the meeting, Fadnavis highlighted the need for a structured system in big cities like Mumbai, where the demand for housing continues to grow due to increasing migration.

He said that rental housing should be managed based on demand and supply so that available homes are used efficiently. He also stressed that all processes should be transparent and based on proper agreements to protect both tenants and landlords.

Several senior officials attended the meeting, including Additional Chief Secretary (Housing) Aseem Kumar Gupta, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, and Principal Secretary (Home) Anup Kumar Singh.

To reduce disputes between tenants and property owners, the Chief Minister suggested improving coordination through a stronger legal framework. He proposed appointing a Deputy Commissioner of Police under the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999, to oversee rental-related issues.

He also recommended that police resources should increase automatically as areas expand, ensuring better management of housing matters. A formal order will soon be issued to assign this responsibility.

To speed up the resolution of rental disputes, the government is planning to set up 100 special courts. These courts may be handled by retired judges, and evening courts could also be introduced to clear pending cases faster. If needed, rented spaces will be used to run these courts.