Real Estate News
Can 1, 2, 3, and 4 Bhks in one complex cause societal conflicts?
When 35-year-old Nimesh Shah (name changed) bought a 3BHK apartment in a premium housing society in Mumbai’s outskirts, he thought he’d finally found an aspirational location in the city’s increasingly costly real estate market.
Shah, who earns around ₹6 lakh per month, purchased a unit in a luxury residential tower with 4 and 5 BHK apartments. However, immediately after taking ownership, he found that affording the apartment was only one side of the problem; meeting society’s lifestyle expectations was a very different challenge.
The turning point occurred when inhabitants of the building advocated remodelling the lobby interiors because they were dissatisfied with the current aesthetics. Homeowners were requested to contribute from their own pockets to the improvement.
Shah, who already pays an EMI of almost ₹2.75 lakh per month and spends another ₹2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh on domestic and leisure costs, found the demand financially challenging. “I suddenly felt trapped, and even a single unexpected societal expense started feeling stressful because most of my income was already committed,” he stated.
Shah’s story exemplifies a rising worry in luxury township projects and premium gated communities in Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru: the financial disparity between inhabitants living in the smallest flats and others who own much larger residences within the same complex. While developers in township projects may provide a variety of 2, 3, 4, and 5BHK layouts to appeal to a broader range of homebuyers, the social and financial dynamics of such communities can sometimes put pressure on buyers at the lower end of the project’s pricing spectrum.
According to real estate advisors, in many luxury societies, discretionary expenditure on aesthetics, amenities, events, and upgrades is frequently driven by inhabitants of larger units who have far more spare income. Despite having relatively good wages on paper, homebuyers who strained their finances to enter a premium location may find it difficult to bear these recurring payments over time.
Why is the discussion over diversified unit sizes in housing societies gaining traction right now?
The argument recently resurfaced online after a viral Reddit post from a housing society in Karnataka claimed that occupants of 1 BHK and 1 RK apartments were denied access to amenities such as the gym and swimming pool despite paying maintenance fees. The article sparked extensive debate about class disparities, unequal access to facilities, and conflict between occupants of tiny and large homes.
According to one tenant, the society has implemented regulations that prevent occupants of smaller flats from utilizing communal amenities, despite the fact that maintenance is paid for by all residents.
“In developments with varying apartment sizes, residents frequently contribute different maintenance amounts and have diverse spending capabilities. According to Dipesh Joshi, a Mumbai-based real estate consultant, decisions such as clubhouse usage, parking allocation, and sinking funds can lead to social divisions. For example, Nimesh Shah, who lived in South Mumbai, sold his smaller apartment to purchase a larger one in a semi-luxury township in the suburbs. However, after a year in the new house, he realized it was unsustainable in the long run. The reason for this was because inhabitants of 4- and 5-BHK apartments held opposing views to those of 3-BHK units, resulting in disagreements over day-to-day maintenance and funding. Finally, when Shah approached me, I suggested he sell the apartment and buy one in a nearby development. However, downgrading is not an easy option,” Joshi added.
What do developers have to say about product mix?
According to real estate developers, township projects in places such as Pune and Bengaluru have a more diverse product mix. “We have township developments in Pune and Bengaluru where developers are selling 1, 2, 3, and 4 BHK apartments in various structures within the township. However, there is barely such a product mix in Mumbai,” said a developer who did not want to be named. “We have projects offering 1 and 2 BHK, 2, 3 BHK, or 3, 4, 5 BHK.” This is the product mix, and it is also a safe combination for making ventures viable. One cause for Mumbai’s lack of product combinations is a lack of available land. As a result, developers have a very sharp and targeted product mix to ensure they don’t make mistakes,” the developer explained.
Another well-known developer noted, “In Mumbai, development control regulations generally do not restrict a residential project’s apartment mix, allowing developers to offer 1-5 BHKs in one society.”
The developer stated, “However, restrictions primarily arise in special schemes such as MHADA, SRA, or redevelopment projects with rehab or affordable housing obligations.” In practice, product mix is mostly determined by economics, FSI efficiency, parking regulations, and market demand.”
Real Estate News
Home Sales Rise 19%; Navi Mumbai Leads Housing Growth
Housing sales in India’s top nine cities increased 19% year on year (YoY) to 112,458 units in Q2 2026, compared to 94,864 units the previous year. According to a PropEquity research, Navi Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad experienced the largest increases in housing sales. According to the data, sales surged due to a multi-quarter increase in housing supply of 117,609 units, up 43% year on year, untouched by geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East.
According to the data, sales increased by 14% quarter on quarter while supply increased by 27% in Q2 2026.
According to the research, Navi Mumbai saw the biggest YoY rise in sales, at 54%, followed by Chennai at 33%, Hyderabad at 25%, and Bengaluru at 20%.
On the other side, Pune experienced a 16% growth, Mumbai 15%, and Thane 3%. While seven of the top nine cities saw an increase in property sales, Delhi NCR and Kolkata experienced a 17% and 12% decrease, respectively.
Supply-side scenario.
On the supply front, Navi Mumbai led with 116% year-on-year increase at 9902 units, followed by Mumbai at 111% at 10,438 units, Hyderabad at 75% at 18,407 units, and Bengaluru at 71% at 24,340 units. In markets such as Chennai, Pune, and Thane, supply increased by 6% to 41 percent.
Hyderabad has emerged as the second largest home supply market after Bengaluru, displacing Pune, Thane, and Delhi-NCR.
Delhi-NCR witnessed a 6% decrease in housing supply, totaling 12977 units, while Kolkata saw a 2% decrease of 2608 units.
Real Estate News
Pune Developer Refunds Full Booking Amount to Buyer
A Pune-based real estate developer has claimed that he refunded the entire amount paid by a homebuyer who allegedly disappeared just days before taking possession of his flat after suffering heavy gambling losses.
According to Rahul Ajmera of Vasupujya Corporation, the buyer had booked the home in 2022, completed the flat registration, and paid the majority of the agreement value. However, as the possession date approached, he suddenly stopped responding to calls from the developer’s sales team regarding the remaining balance, leaving everyone puzzled about his sudden disappearance.
The mystery was later explained when the buyer’s relatives approached the developer for help. They allegedly revealed that the homebuyer had incurred significant betting losses and was being held by a betting syndicate in Mumbai over unpaid debts. The buyer’s brother-in-law reportedly sought financial assistance from the developer so the family could complete the purchase, rent out the property, and gradually repay the debt.
Instead of extending a loan, Ajmera offered to cancel the transaction and process a full refund without making any deductions. He said the family could use the refunded amount to settle the outstanding debts and help the buyer rebuild his life.
The case has also drawn attention to MahaRERA’s rules on cancellations and refunds. While developers are generally allowed to deduct a portion of the agreement value when a buyer withdraws after registration and substantial payments have been made, Ajmera stated that he chose not to exercise that right. According to him, the transaction had progressed well beyond the booking stage, and the developer could have deducted up to 10% of the agreement value. However, citing humanitarian grounds, he waived the deduction and refunded the buyer’s entire payment.
Real Estate News
Reliance Wins 101-Acre Mumbai Slum Redevelopment Project
Reliance Industries’ real estate business, Reliance 4IR Realty Development, as part of a partnership, has obtained rehabilitation rights for the 101-acre Juhu Lane-Gilbert Hill slum cluster in Mumbai’s Andheri, marking the conglomerate’s entry into the city’s slum redevelopment sector.
The project is one of Mumbai’s major redevelopment prospects, and it is strategically located in the western suburbs. Here’s an overview of the project’s location, size, main parties, and what the renovation could entail for residents, developers, and the Mumbai housing market.
All about the Juhu Lane- Gilbert Hill slum complex.
The Juhu Lane to Gilbert Hill Slum Cluster spans 101.36 acres in Mumbai’s Andheri West, making it one of the largest and first projects to be implemented under the Maharashtra government’s new slum cluster redevelopment program.
According to a Hindustan Times report, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA)-tender project is scheduled to restore more than 28,000 dwellings for eligible slum residents.
According to the report, the land parcel extends from Juhu Lane (CD Barfiwala Road) to JP Road, near the Hansraj Morarji Public School. The property now includes 13,634 slum tenements, some SRA buildings, a private hospital, a police station, a civic market, a retail market, educational institutions, and government offices.
Gilbert Hill: The historic rock structure at the center of Mumbai’s most recent reconstruction project
Gilbert Hill, a remarkable 200-foot-high monolithic basalt rock formation in Mumbai’s Andheri district, is thought to be roughly 66 million years old. It is one of the world’s few surviving basalt monoliths, formed by lava flows connected with ancient Deccan Traps volcanic activity.
The hill’s surroundings include various slum settlements and old structures that are slated to be redeveloped as part of Mumbai’s slum rehabilitation programme. Beyond its geological significance, Gilbert Hill is strategically located in Mumbai’s western suburbs, close to major commercial hubs, metro connectivity, and established residential neighbourhoods, making it a notable landmark from both a heritage and real estate perspective.
Who will build the project?
The nearly 100-acre slum redevelopment cluster will be built by a Reliance-led consortium that includes Mahadev Realtors Juhu Private Limited, an Aspect Realty subsidiary.
The consortium successfully outbid JSW Realty and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd and Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate Pvt Ltd to win the contract. Bidders were evaluated based on the premium they proposed above the SRA’s ready reckoner land rate, with a 10% minimum bid.
According to the report, the Reliance-led consortium will have to pay around ₹700 crore in transit fee over two years. It must deposit one additional year’s transit rent in post-dated cheques with the SRA to ensure that qualified residents get continuing rental assistance during the rehabilitation and construction phase. The selected bidder must present a performance guarantee of ₹100 crore to the SRA.
According to a media report, the prime land will be redeveloped using the construction-and-development agreement model, in which existing residents will be rehabilitated on-site, the state government will receive a portion of the housing stock, and the developer will be able to sell the remainder on the open market.
The nominated developer will have to build 561 tenements of 300 square feet apiece for current tenants. The developer must deposit ₹1,050 crore with the SRA for three years of transit rent at ₹20,000 per month per tenement. Eligible slum residents would pay a one-time relocation price of ₹15,000.
The timetable for completing the whole rehabilitation component has been established at 9.5 years (114 months) from the date of the initial Commencement Certificate. Upon receipt of the first Commencement Certificate, at least 25% of the permitted buildings must be completed and turned over to families.
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