Why Every Apartment Must Register Its Association Under TNAOA, 2022

The Tamil Nadu Apartment Ownership Act, 2022 replaced the older, patchwork framework for apartment governance with a single statute requiring every apartment complex to register its association and file a management statement with the competent authority.

Registration is what gives an association legal personality — the ability to sue and be sued in its own name, to enter contracts for maintenance and security, and to enforce its by-laws against non-compliant owners. An unregistered welfare association operating informally has none of these powers in a legally reliable way, which becomes a serious problem the moment a dispute over dues, common-area use, or a defaulting owner reaches a court.

Registration also formalises the undivided share of each owner in common areas and facilities, which affects everything from voting rights at general body meetings to liability for shared expenses.

For associations that have not yet registered, or that registered without a properly drafted management statement, the exposure is real: unenforceable by-laws, disputed voting rights, and difficulty recovering maintenance arrears. We assist associations with registration, by-law drafting, and disputes arising from non-compliance.