What Happens When Your Building Gets An ‘Unfit’ Tag

The macro real estate market of India is faced with ageing buildings. Tier I cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai face the sharpest risk. Once these ageing buildings degrade so much that they become "unfit" for occupancy, the municipal authority fails the building for its stability and safety assessment. This is not a symbolic classification. The unfit tag immediately starts legal, civic, and financial consequences for residents, which forces them to repair, relocate, or redevelop.

A building is declared unfit after an official structural audit. In Tier I cities, rules under Section 353B have mandated that buildings over 30 years undergo periodic audits to check if they are still safe for occupancy; those above 50 years are audited even more frequently. When the audit shows that the building has severe damage, the municipal corporation classifies it into categories such as C1, C2A, or C2B. C1 stands for dangerous and unfit; the urgency is higher in this category compared to the other two. C2A and C2B have options to redevelop or to repair.

Once the building is tagged unfit, the government steps in either to enforce changes or evacuation. Authorities issue a formal notice to all residents, followed by the disconnection of electricity and water supply if residents resist the notice. In high-risk cases, the municipal corporation can also force occupants to evacuate the premises and seal the structure. This may be harsh, but civic bodies are legally and morally bound to prevent any life threats that these structures pose. Amit Sharma, CDCP, Knight Frank advices, "After a building is tagged unfit, quick redevelopment requires a clear and coordinated approach. Societies should bring in structural experts to assess safety and prepare a compliant plan. Next, they should form a committee from the existing RWA to make decisions, manage funds and keep residents informed. Finally, they should appoint the right developers or contractors to liaise with authorities, secure approvals, and oversee timely reconstruction. This structured approach can significantly reduce delays and safeguard both residents and property."

The government also provides certain support mechanisms once a building is declared dangerous. Certain cities provide frameworks that help the evacuees with accommodations, like Mumbai's DCPR 2034 or MHADA's cessed building model. At this time, redevelopment proposals show more speed due to the urgency of it.

For residents, the next few turn of events entirely depend on how organised the society is. The first step is to fight the decision, which rarely succeeds. The residents, on their part, should look for immediate solutions. If the damage requires complete redevelopment, their housing, assets, and other formalities must be taken care of.

The tag of unfit is stressful, disruptive, and financially challenging, but this is not the end of the road. This safety warning is to strengthen the future. With timely action and organised decision-making, residents can turn a dangerous structure into a safer home.