Karnataka Apartment Bill 2025: Common Ownership Rights, Redevelopment Rules and Key Features

Karnataka has made public the draft Karnataka Apartment (Ownership and Management) Bill, 2025 (KAOMA), an awaited initiative intended to modernise the administration of apartments, enhance the powers of the owners and resolve the old disputes in the fast-growing real estate industry of the state. The draft legislation provides for a system of joint ownership of the land and common facilities, introduces a legal basis for redeveloping old apartments and brings apartment regulation in line with the provisions of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, (RERA), 2016. The state is ready to receive feedback from the public until August 6, 2026 and plans to introduce the Bill during the coming Monsoon session of the Karnataka Legislature.

Why Karnataka is Bringing Out a New Law on Apartments?

In recent years, Bengaluru has undergone rapid urbanization with a surge in apartment-based dwellings.

According to the Karnataka government,

• Over 25,000 apartment buildings are present in Bengaluru.
• These buildings together hold around 2.5 to 3 million residence
• Around 60,000 to 75,000 apartments were registered with KRERA last year.
• But the apartment regulation has been mostly governed by laws created more than 50 years back.

The state government feels that these laws don’t serve the purpose of the modern housing projects, and that they also conflict with the provisions of RERA, 2016, which has made it difficult for the apartment owners.

Important Aspects of the Bill on Karnataka Apartments 2025

This draft law provides a number of amendments aimed at enhancing clarity, accountability and the rights of residents.

Joint Ownership of Land and Common Spaces

One of the major changes is that ownership of the following is given to the apartment owners as a whole,

• Land of the development
• Common rooms
• Common utilities

Apartment Owners Councils will be in charge of operating and maintaining the property but they will not own it.

This change is intended to avoid disputes over ownership of the common facilities at apartment buildings.

Scope of the Law

The law is to be applicable to all apartment buildings that consist of 8 or more flat units.

The Department of Urban Development will be responsible for implementing the law and supervising its execution.

Clear Definitions to Solve Property Disputes

The arguments regarding land measurements are the most common problems that home buyers face.

To promote clarity in real estate transactions, the Bill provides standardized definitions for,

• Private area
• Super built-up area
• Undivided share of land

The purpose of the law is to help eliminate the disputes between developers and apartment owners during property registration and transfer.

Framework for Redevelopment of Aging Apartment Buildings

The main aspect of the Bill is the establishment of Karnataka’s first legal framework for the redevelopment of old apartment buildings.

Safety Requirements of Architecture

According to the new law,

• Apartment buildings that reach 30 years of age must have a Structural Stability Certificate.
• The certificate needs to be renewed every five years.

These rules have been created to enhance safety for citizens since many old apartments have already outlived their time of operation.

Permission for Redevelopment

The Bill contains detailed instructions for redevelopment.

The critical aspects include,

• Redevelopment starts only if 75% of owners agree.
• Owners who do not agree cannot be forced to take part in the process; they must receive compensation.
• Owners refusing to agree will receive compensation of no less than twice the value of their apartment in the market.

Public Consultation Prior to Conclusion

D.K. Shivakumar, the Chief Minister, requested proposals from,

• Owners of Flats
• Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs)
• Housing Professionals
• Realty Representatives
• Common Citizens

The comments on the draft Bill could be given by 6 August 2026.

The state has suggested that proposals provided by the stakeholders will be taken into account before the final version of the laws is introduced during the monsoon session.