NEW DELHI: Following a fatal building collapse in the Satya Niketan area, the Delhi government is fast-tracking the development of a comprehensive policy to regulate paying guest (PG) accommodations across the city. The proposed framework aims to enhance safety standards, ensure transparency, and address the long-standing regulatory gaps that have plagued the sector.
New Safety and Registration Mandates
The forthcoming policy is expected to mandate strict registration and licensing for all PG operators. Under the proposed regulations, property owners will have 90 days to obtain an operating license from zonal authorities, a process that will require No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the police, municipal corporation, and local administration. Each registered PG facility will be assigned a unique PG Registration Number (PGRN). Mandatory CCTV cameras at all entry points and common areas, with footage to be preserved for 30 days, are also part of the new safety requirements. For PGs housing 15 or more students, the presence of a security guard during night hours will be compulsory, along with a visitor register and the availability of a warden within a 500-meter radius.
Rent Control and Tenant Protection
In an effort to bring greater control and transparency to rental practices, the policy outlines the establishment of a Rent Regulation Committee. This committee will be responsible for setting area-wise rent bands, aiming to curb exorbitant charges. PG operators will be permitted to collect a maximum security deposit equivalent to three months’ rent, with advance payments not exceeding three months. A mandatory 30-day notice period will be required for both residents leaving and for owners asking a tenant to vacate. Crucially, the proposed rules will prohibit discriminatory rents based on gender, caste, religion, or state of origin, promoting equitable housing opportunities.
Addressing Structural and Fire Safety
The Satya Niketan building collapse, which claimed seven lives, has underscored the urgent need for structural audits and fire safety compliance in buildings used for public activities, including PGs. The Delhi government, in coordination with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), plans to introduce a policy requiring periodic structural audits and building safety certifications for all such establishments. Buildings will not be permitted to operate without ensuring their safety, with provisions for redevelopment of existing hostels and potential relaxation in Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to address the shortage of residential facilities for students.
Master Plan 2047 and Regulatory Gaps
The Master Plan for Delhi-2047 (MPD-2047), while acknowledging the need for diverse housing options, has been criticized for leaving the regulation of PG accommodation in a grey area. The plan largely restricts PG operations in certain categories of colonies and defers regulation to government guidelines issued from time to time, rather than establishing a concrete framework. This omission is particularly significant given the severe shortage of hostel accommodation in the city, which drives thousands of students towards private PGs. The MPD-2047’s baseline report had identified a massive gap in rental housing and called for newer forms of accommodation, but the final plan barely addresses the specific needs and safety concerns of the PG sector.
Historical Context and Enforcement Challenges
Attempts to regulate PG accommodations in Delhi date back over three decades, with various schemes, surveys, and committees established over the years. Despite these efforts, a lack of a specific licensing framework has allowed PGs to evolve from informal residential arrangements into large-scale commercial operations without adequate regulatory oversight. A 2006 Delhi High Court judgment noted an existing ‘Paying Guest Residential Accommodation’ scheme from 1993, but this primarily catered to tourists and did not address the commercial PGs that later proliferated around educational institutions and employment hubs. Recent incidents, such as a fire at a women’s PG in Mukherjee Nagar in September 2023, have further highlighted the regulatory deficiencies, with surveys revealing numerous PG establishments allegedly violating building bylaws.
Supreme Court Intervention and Future Outlook
The Satya Niketan tragedy has also drawn the attention of the Supreme Court, which is considering expanding its ongoing exercise against illegal constructions to examine the safety of student accommodation nationwide. The court-appointed amicus curiae has sought a time-bound safety audit of PG facilities across Delhi, emphasizing the need for comprehensive inspections beyond specific localities. The Delhi High Court has also ordered an inquiry into the Satya Niketan collapse and directed the MCD to inspect all PG hostels under its jurisdiction for compliance with building permissions and bylaws. The proposed Paying Guest Accommodation Regulation and Safety Bill, 2026, is expected to introduce mandatory licenses, zone-wise rent bands, structural and fire safety audits, and a central portal for listing PG accommodations, aiming to prevent a recurrence of such tragic incidents.
The Chenab Times News Desk