Pune: The proposed Model Bye-Laws 2026 for cooperative housing societies cover issues like redevelopment, parking, flat transfers, electric vehicle charging, structural safety and grievance redressal.It will cover over over 1.25 lakh societies across Maharashtra, said state cooperation department officials recently.The state cooperative department published the draft Model Bye-Laws for Co-operative Housing Societies — Tenant Co-partnership (Flat Type) for public suggestions and objections after a meeting convened by cooperative commissioner Deepak Tawre on Thursday.Tawre told TOI that they have published the draft on the website mahasahakar.maharashtra.gov.in. “Citizens should examine it and give their suggestions and objections, if any, before Aug 27,” he said, adding that it would be put to the govt for finalisation thereafter.The bye-laws were proposed after the rules were finalised for the Act. Cooperation department officials said the current set of model bye-laws — last revised in 2014 — had not kept pace with legal, civic and technological developments and was essential.Expert director of Maharashtra State Housing Federation advocate Shreeprasad Parab said the proposed bye-laws recognised changes over the last decade in housing societies due to rapid urbanisation, technological advancement, redevelopment, amendments to the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, RERA and changing expectations of members.“Laws must evolve with changing times. The proposed Model Bye-Laws 2026 introduce a comprehensive and modern framework, with around 20 chapters, covering almost every aspect of a society’s functioning — name and records, definitions, area of operation, objects, affiliation, funds and share capital, nomination, rights and duties of members, maintenance, repairs, levy of charges, transactions, parking, the general body and management of society affairs. The inclusion of digital communication through email also reflects the intention to promote efficient and technology-driven administration,” he said.He said separate treatment of subjects that have earlier led to disputes and litigation was significant. “Dedicated chapters have been introduced for parking, conveyance, occupancy certificates, structural repairs, redevelopment, emergency management and redressal of members’ complaints. These additions demonstrate recognition of the practical challenges faced by housing societies across Maharashtra and an intention to provide greater clarity through a structured legal framework,” Parab added.The proposed draft gives the general body a central role in redevelopment, covering developer-led redevelopment, self-redevelopment and other legally permissible models.Among the proposals, open and stilt parking would ordinarily form part of common areas and would not be independently saleable. Mere occupation or a builder’s letter or receipt would not create ownership or permanent proprietary rights.“Subject to availability, one parking space would be allotted to each flat/unit first. Additional spaces could be allotted temporarily or annually after first-space requirements are met. Societies would maintain physical or electronic parking records covering allotment, cancellation, re-allotment, vehicle registration and waiting lists. Where demand exceeds availability, allotment could follow a waiting list, draw of lots or rotation,” read the proposed bye-laws.The bye-laws allow members to install a private EV charging facility at a lawfully allotted parking space without general body approval — subject to safety and technical requirements. The member would bear costs of load augmentation, meter, cabling, equipment, installation, civil works, electricity and maintenance.It also said that societies with over 50 members could constitute a grievance force redressal committee comprising one committee member and two society members not on the committee. Buildings between 15 and 30 years old would ordinarily require structural audits once every five years, while those over 30 years would require audits once every three years. Periodic fire audits and annual lift inspection and maintenance requirements are also proposed.Parab said placing the draft in the public domain before final adoption would help draw participation from cooperative housing societies in the state. “It reflects the democratic and participatory spirit of the cooperative movement. Housing societies, federation representatives, legal practitioners, architects, redevelopment consultants and members should actively participate and provide constructive suggestions. The proposed Model Bye-Laws 2026 have the potential to become a progressive, future-oriented framework strengthening governance, transparency, accountability and harmonious living in over 1.25 lakh cooperative housing societies across Maharashtra,” he added.
