Odisha Takes Further Steps For Smooth Registration Of Apartments Of Pre-RERA Projects

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has taken further steps to ensure smooth registration by the authorities of apartments, which were completed before RERA came into operation in the state.

The state government implemented the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2023, to facilitate sale and purchase of apartments completed before the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) came into being, according to the Revenue & Disaster Management department.

In a communication, the department directed the Registering Officers of the state to register apartments which had been completed before the implementation of RERA, in compliance with the notification issued by the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) department on February 1, 2025.

Registering Officers of the State were requested not to deny registration of the apartments citing provisions of Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2023, if the apartments were completed before the commencement of RERA (i.e. 25.02.2017).

This is with reference to the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2023 (Odisha Act 7 of 2023) referred to as the OAOM Act, which came into force on June 28, 2023. The measure is expected to alleviate issues encountered by members of the public-facing obstacles in the property market.

Earlier, the Housing and Urban Development Department in its notification on Saturday, said, “Without prejudice to any existing Acts and Rules, it is hereby clarified that Registration Authorities will not deny the registration of any apartment citing provisions of the OAOM Act, if the apartment was completed before the commencement of RERA in the State, i.e. prior to February 25, 2017.”

The department had also asked the Revenue and Disaster Management department to issue instructions to the Registration Officers to facilitate the registration of such apartments.

The Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2023 (OAOM Act) came into force on June 28, 2023. It aimed at streamlining the laws related to apartment ownership and management.

The notification also stated that the OAOM Act aligns with the apartment ownership and management norms provided in the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA).

Now that the notification has clarified the ambiguity about the OAOM Act and RERA, it will facilitate hassle-free registration of the apartments. The owners of those apartment can go for registration of the sale deeds and transfer deeds.

In November 2024, the government had announced several measures, including steps to streamline registration of common areas in apartments and preparation of modalities for registration of pre-RERA projects to protect the interest of home buyers.