If your Lokhandwala society is in redevelopment talks, the first question is usually simple: is the new flat really as big as promised? You can answer that with three sets of documents — what you own today, what has been promised in writing, and what the society has actually recorded.
This is a general guide. It does not refer to any specific society, developer or dispute.
1. Establish what you own today
Collect your registered agreement, the sanctioned plan, your share certificate and any later registered changes. Ask an independent architect to confirm the recorded area and its basis.
"Existing area" often hides the real disagreement: carpet, built-up, or an old enclosure that was never sanctioned. Do not settle it by quoting the largest number in an old brochure.
Under RERA, carpet area excludes external walls, service shafts and exclusive balconies, verandahs and open terraces, but includes internal partition walls. Keep those items separate when you compare the offer.
2. Find the promise in writing
Put the redevelopment proposal, meeting minutes, development agreement and your individual agreement side by side. Make one sheet:
- existing recognised area
- additional area offered
- new flat details, floor and parking
- specifications
- anything you have to pay
Mark each figure as fixed or conditional, and ask what happens if the approved plan changes. A presentation and an executed agreement can say different things. Have your lawyer explain the gap before you rely on either.
3. Ask the society for its records properly
Section 154B-8 of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act gives members the right to inspect specified society records, including minutes and accounts. Send a dated written request listing the records and meeting dates you need, and whether you want inspection or copies. Keep the acknowledgement. A focused request works better than a demand for "all redevelopment papers".
4. Check approvals, not percentages
There is no rule that every Lokhandwala flat gets a fixed percentage of extra area. What your building can deliver depends on its land, planning provisions and the negotiated offer. Ask the project architect and an independent lawyer which provisions apply, and check the sanctioned plans and MahaRERA registration of the new project.
The practical takeaway
Keep one file with the promise, the approvals, the measurements and your correspondence. Have an independent architect check the area and an independent lawyer check your rights. Then decide what to sign, question or challenge.
Frequently asked questions
Does a verbal promise fix my new area? Do not rely on it alone. Make sure it is written into your agreement.
Does every member get the same extra area? Not necessarily. Check the approved scheme and your own agreement.
Can Khojmaster settle a dispute? No. We help you organise the property questions; legal rights and measurements need your lawyer and architect.
Buying or selling in a Lokhandwala building that is going into redevelopment? Call or WhatsApp Dhaval Seth at Khojmaster Property Consultants — 9321058605. MahaRERA-registered advisory (A51800047853). Zero brokerage on new purchases.
Sources: Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960, s.154B-8; Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, s.2(k). This article is for general information and is not legal advice.