Shivakumar Unveils Draft Bill to Protect Karnataka Homebuyer Rights

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar unveiled the draft Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2026, on July 15 to replace two outdated statutes from 1972. The proposed legislation aims to align state law with the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) and provide a unified framework for projects containing more than eight units.

Central to the Bill is the protection of homebuyer ownership rights. It mandates the transfer of land beneath common areas to owners and introduces deemed conveyance to automatically vest land in owners when developers fail to do so. To address building longevity, the law requires structural stability certificates every five years for buildings over 30 years old. Additionally, any building redevelopment will now require a 75% majority consent from owners, with non-consenting owners eligible for compensation at least twice the market value.

The Bill also establishes a two-tier dispute resolution mechanism under the Urban Development Department with powers equivalent to a civil court and standardizes maintenance charges based on super built-up area formulas. Shivakumar introduced the Bhu Guarantee initiative to streamline digital property rights and warned developers against withholding title documents.

Stakeholders and resident welfare associations have until August 6, 2026, to submit feedback. Shivakumar intends to introduce the Bill during the upcoming Assembly session.