The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration is set to introduce a new apartment ownership regulation aimed at regularising and simplifying the registration process for flats and apartments across the Union Territory. This move is expected to benefit residents by enabling individual ownership registration, thereby easing legal ownership formalities and improving access to home financing options.
A Senior Official from the administration confirmed that the draft regulation, titled the Andaman and Nicobar Island Apartment Ownership Regulation, 2025, is nearing finalisation. It has been prepared in coordination with various government departments and incorporates inputs from stakeholders including real estate developers, legal experts, housing society representatives, and members of the public.
Currently, under existing rules, private buildings with fewer than eight apartments are not eligible for registration by the administration. This restriction has resulted in difficulties for owners in obtaining bank loans, as financial institutions typically require formal registration of property for loan sanction.
The new regulation will allow individual flat owners in buildings of any size to register their apartments, thus removing the earlier requirement that buildings with eight or more flats convert into housing cooperative societies for registration. This change aims to promote transparency and facilitate property transactions for smaller apartment complexes that currently face hurdles in securing loans and formal recognition.
During a recent meeting involving multiple stakeholders, officials reviewed and collected feedback to ensure the regulation addresses practical challenges faced by residents and the real estate sector. The official noted that the public response to the proposed framework was positive, with participants offering valuable suggestions that will be considered before finalising the rule.
Once implemented, the regulation is expected to have several benefits. Apartment owners will be able to formally register their properties, which will provide them legal proof of ownership. This, in turn, will facilitate property sales and transfers and ease the process of securing home loans from banks and other lending institutions. The measure is anticipated to increase confidence among buyers and sellers and contribute to a more organised real estate market in the islands.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts by the Andaman and Nicobar administration to improve housing governance and support residents in managing their property rights more effectively. By enabling individual flat registration, the regulation aims to address long-standing issues related to property documentation and loan accessibility that have affected smaller apartment owners.
The administration expects to finalise and implement the regulation soon, providing clear guidelines and procedures for apartment registration. Awareness campaigns and stakeholder engagement will continue to ensure smooth adoption of the new rule.
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