Last reviewed: 13 August 2026. Every broker, channel partner, and platform that facilitates the sale of a RERA-registered project in Maharashtra needs its own MahaRERA agent registration — and since MahaRERA introduced the mandatory competency exam, the certificate is earned, not just bought. Promoters carry exposure too: deals routed through unregistered agents are violations on both sides. Here is the whole lifecycle — who needs it, the fees, the exam, the five-year renewal, and the obligations that keep the number alive.
Who is an "agent" — wider than most assume
The Act catches any person who negotiates or acts on behalf of one person in a transaction of plot, apartment or building in a registered project — for remuneration or not-so-obvious consideration. That includes the traditional broker, the channel-partner firm on a developer's launch, the referral consultant, and prop-tech platforms listing registered inventory. Employees selling only their employer-promoter's own project sit differently — but the moment third-party inventory enters, registration applies. When in doubt, register: the number costs less than one stalled deal.
The registration file and the exam
| Item | Position |
|---|---|
| Application | Online on the MahaRERA portal with PAN, address proof, photographs, and constitution documents for firms/companies |
| Competency certificate | Mandatory: complete the prescribed training and pass the MahaRERA agent examination; the certificate is a prerequisite for grant and renewal |
| Fee | ₹10,000 (individual) · ₹1,00,000 (other than individual) |
| Validity | 5 years from grant |
| Renewal | Portal application before expiry with the renewal fee and a current competency certificate — diarise it; an expired number cannot close deals |
Obligations that keep the number alive
- Quote the agent registration number on every advertisement, listing and deal document.
- Deal only in registered projects — facilitating sales in an unregistered project is a violation for the agent AND evidence against the promoter.
- Maintain books and records of transactions facilitated; MahaRERA can call for them.
- No misleading representations — the Section 12 discipline that binds promoters binds the person doing the talking too.
- Keep the competency certificate current across the team; firms register the entity, and MahaRERA's framework expects the people selling to be certified.
The promoter's side of this coin
Developers routinely hand launches to channel-partner networks — and then discover at a hearing that half the network was unregistered. Run a quarterly check: collect every partner's MahaRERA number, verify it on the portal (status, validity), and put registration warranties in the channel-partner agreement. Our promoter compliance guide carries the full calendar this sits inside; the complaints-and-notices playbook shows where unregistered-agent trails end up.
Frequently asked questions
Who must register as a real estate agent under MahaRERA?
Any person or entity facilitating sale or purchase in a RERA-registered project — individual brokers, partnerships, companies, channel partners and platforms. Registration precedes the first facilitated transaction, and the number must appear on advertisements and listings.
What does MahaRERA agent registration cost?
₹10,000 for individuals and ₹1,00,000 for entities other than individuals (firms, companies, LLPs), plus applicable portal charges. The mandatory training and examination carry their own modest costs. The certificate runs five years.
Is the MahaRERA agent exam really compulsory?
Yes — MahaRERA mandates the prescribed training and a competency examination, and the certificate of competency is a prerequisite for both fresh registrations and renewals. It is a genuine exam on RERA law and practice, not a formality.
What happens if an agent’s registration expires mid-deal?
A lapsed number means the agent cannot lawfully facilitate transactions until renewal — deals stall, and continuing anyway invites penalties under the Act. Renew through the portal before expiry with a current competency certificate; diarise it like a statutory due date, because it is one.
Can a promoter be in trouble for using unregistered agents?
Yes — routing sales through unregistered agents creates exposure on both sides and surfaces easily in complaint proceedings. Verify every channel partner’s number on the portal quarterly and put registration warranties into channel-partner agreements.
How does a CA firm help agents and channel-partner firms?
We handle the registration and renewal filings, structure the entity where a firm registration is better than individual ones, set up the transaction records MahaRERA expects, keep the renewal and exam calendar, and align the agent’s books, GST and TDS positions with the RERA record.
We run agent registrations and renewals, entity structuring, transaction records and the tax stack that sits alongside — so the number on your listings is never the weak link.
RERA Compliance Desk GST Registration Talk to usThis article is general information as on 13 August 2026, based on the RERA framework and current MahaRERA practice on agent registration, training and renewal. Fees and portal requirements change by circular; the portal and current MahaRERA orders prevail. Not professional advice.