Mumbai’s housing landscape is set for a brief yet significant shift as the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) announced the release of 120 flats on a first-come, first-served (FCFS) basis across key city neighbourhoods. This move, scheduled to begin on February 5, 2026, provides potential homebuyers direct access to residential units that had remained unsold in earlier lotteries, reflecting both market demand and the persistent scarcity of affordable housing options in the metropolis.
The flats, spanning neighbourhoods from Kandivali, Charkop, and Shimpoli in the north to Tardeo, Lower Parel, and Juhu in the south, cover a wide spectrum of price points. Units in premium locations such as Tardeo are priced above ₹8 crore, while entry-level flats in suburban zones start at ₹38 lakh. Experts note that offering such a diverse pricing range aligns with MHADA’s long-standing mandate to balance inclusivity with financial viability in Mumbai’s property sector. Under the FCFS framework, the application process begins online from February 5, allowing applicants to register via the official MHADA portal. Detailed selection and payment procedures, including the submission of a security deposit, application fee, and flat selection, will start from February 12. Once a unit is finalised, a 10 per cent payment of the flat price must be completed within 48 hours, after which MHADA issues a temporary offer letter enabling the buyer to complete the remaining payments and obtain possession. Failure to comply results in automatic cancellation of the allotment and forfeiture of the security deposit.
Eligibility criteria maintain strict adherence to regulatory norms. Applicants must be Indian citizens over 18 years of age. Document verification is comprehensive: unmarried applicants must submit Aadhaar and PAN cards, while married couples need to provide details for both spouses. Divorced individuals are required to submit certified court orders, ensuring legal clarity in property allotment. MHADA has also integrated housing loan facilitation into the process, allowing applicants to upload pre-sanctioned loan letters to streamline NOC issuance. Urban planners suggest that initiatives such as this FCFS release play a crucial role in addressing the supply-demand mismatch in Mumbai’s housing ecosystem, particularly for units that linger unsold due to procedural or market constraints. By reducing dependence on lottery-based allocation and enabling direct transactions, MHADA is not only improving transparency but also supporting equitable access to urban housing.
As the applications open, stakeholders indicate that continuous monitoring of the allotment process, timely completion of legal documentation, and awareness campaigns on eligibility and procedural compliance will be essential to ensure smooth execution. The success of this initiative could set a precedent for similar strategies across other metropolitan regions grappling with affordability and accessibility challenges.
MHADA Offers 120 Mumbai Flats On FCFS Basis
