The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has made it mandatory for developers and real estate agents to prominently display a project’s registration number and QR code in all advertisements, warning that violations could lead to penalties of up to ₹50,000, as reported by Hindustan Times.
According to a directive issued by the authority on April 8, the QR code must appear in the top right corner of advertisements and be easily scannable by digital devices. The QR code must link directly to the project’s page on the MahaRERA website, enabling buyers to verify project details instantly.
The authority emphasized that the font size of the registration number and website address must be equal to or larger than the largest font used for contact details or the project’s address in the ad. This requirement applies regardless of the number or style of fonts used.
The regulation builds on a mandate first introduced in August 2023, which required inclusion of QR codes in real estate marketing to enhance transparency and simplify the due diligence process for homebuyers.
However, MahaRERA noted that many advertisements still fail to meet visibility standards, with QR codes and registration numbers either omitted or rendered unreadable due to light-colored text, small font sizes, or placement in non-prominent sections of ads.
“Such a practice undermines MahaRERA’s objective of transparency and consumer protection,” the authority said in an April 10 statement. “Improper positioning, along with illegible font size and QR code, makes it challenging for the homebuyer to understand if the project is MahaRERA registered or not. The objective is to enable flat purchasers to get the project’s relevant details available at a single click, and this purpose gets defeated.”
Violators may face a fine of up to ₹50,000 under Sections 63 and 65 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. Developers and agents will be given a 10-day window to correct non-compliant advertisements. Failure to comply within this timeframe may result in further action as per the provisions of the Act.
The authority urged all stakeholders in the real estate sector to strictly follow the updated norms, stressing that consumer trust and access to accurate project information remain central to its mission.