Everything you need to know about RWA

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Everything you need to know about RWA

Registrationwala

Preface: This post was originally published in 2024 and has been updated on August 05, 2025, to provide you with the most current and accurate information.

RWA stands for Resident Welfare Association (RWA); it is an association that is elected by a society’s residents. As the name implies, RWA works for the ‘welfare’ of society and protects its rights and interests. Every residential society has its very own RWA. Without RWA, where would the residents go for their concerns or complaints? It is really crucial for a society to have an RWA.

RWA has several rules, responsibilities, and roles to ensure the smooth functioning of a residential society. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about RW, from its definition and members to RWA registration and more.

What is a Resident Welfare Association (RWA)?

Resident Welfare Association, or simply RWA, is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that takes care of the interests of a resident society or a colony in a city and also works for its welfare. All the RWAs are registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. RWAs are governed by certain constitutional documents, and their members cannot work as per their own will. The documents provide RWAs with special powers, which are also checked for a requirement. An RWA can sue as well as be sued. An RWA is a legal body and comes with certain powers to exercise all the rights granted to it for legal purposes.

The role of an RWA is to improve the amenities and shared facilities, look after the internal roads’ condition, make sure streetlights& drainage are working properly, maintain overall cleanliness, and ensure all the residents get access to civic amenities like electricity and water. In prominent societies, RWAs have to do much more work. For instance, in major societies, RWAs also need to look after and manage commercial activities within the residential society's boundaries, in shops, banks, bazaars, etc.

Role of RWA officeholders 

Each and every RWA has a president, general secretary, vice president, treasurer, secretary, finance advisor, and several executive members. We have mentioned the powers and functions of RWA functionaries below:

President 

Vice-president 

General Secretary 

Secretary

Treasurer

Executive members

Powers of Resident Welfare Association (RWA) 

The subscription amount for all the residents in a society is solely decided by the RWA. All the residents can apply for membership under RWA, but the RWA has the right to refuse such memberships by providing a reason for the same. Upon a resident's death, failure to pay the subscription fee, or conducting something against the rules of the society, or in case the majority of the RWA members demand his/her termination on some valid ground, the RWA can terminate such a resident’s membership.

All the necessary initiatives and policies concerning the resident society are implemented by such society’s RWA. All the residents of the society may apply for RWA membership if they are interested.

What is the financial year of a Resident Welfare Association?

RWA follows a financial year that starts from April 1 to March 31.

Funds of a Resident Welfare Association (RWA) 

RWA’s funds are retained in a scheduled bank account. This bank account can be operated by the president, treasurer, or general secretary of the RWA. For auditing the RWA’s account, a qualified auditor is required to be appointed by the governing body.

About RWA Registration

To register as an RWA, it is necessary to apply for RWA Registration. RWA registration is a process of registering a Resident Welfare Association (RWA) under the Societies Registration Act of 1860.

Documents Required for RWA Registration

 

Memorandum of Association (MoA): The MoA of RWA must include the following details:

Rules and Regulations: The rules and regulations of RWA must include the following details:

  1. Officer-bearers list: A minimum of three office-bearers, viz., the president,t, secretary & treasurer, should be a part of RWA. The list of the office-bearers must contain their names, contact details, and addresses.

  2. Proof of Address: A copy of the address proof of the RWA’s registered office is required, such as an electricity bill and a telephone bill.

  3. Proof of Identity: Identity proof of all the RWA’s office-bearers, like Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID card, passport, etc., is necessary.

  4. Fee for Registration: The fee for registration for RWA differs from one state to another. You must pay the prescribed fee alongside the RWA registration application.

How are the RWA members selected?

The governing body of the society is elected for a specific period of time while meeting the general body. The residents can raise their hands during the meeting to elect a person. The final list of RWA’s office bearers should not be less than 7. The list has to be attested by 3 outgoing bearers and then get filed with the society's registrar.

Membership Rules for RWA

For the RWA membership, the following rules are applicable:

RWA can reject or deny membership to any person and provide in writing the reason for the same.

Amendments to RWA Rules 

The rules of RWA can be amended. The same can be done in RWA’s MoA, and such rules must be carried out following the procedure laid down in Sections 12 and 12A of the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

Is RWA mandatory for every housing society? 

A resident’s welfare association (RWA), as mentioned in the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, must be established in a housing society within a period of 3 months from when most houses have been booked. If a developer fails to take the necessary steps to create an RWA in such a society, the residential society’s legal owners are granted the right to create an RWA.

Do the Resident Welfare Associations have some statutory powers? 

No, a resident’s welfare association is a voluntary association that has considerable power and authority over decisions of a society. However, an RWA cannot impact your right to the property. Compared to RWA, cooperative housing societies have more power and control. RWA has no right to infringe on any homeowner's speech or privacy. The restraint or power exercised by RWA is for building or society maintenance, or workshops that are held on the society's premises. 

RWA Limitations

An RWA holds power in the society’s maintenance, membership of residents, and record-keeping. However, RWA’s power has some limitations, which are mentioned below:

Ground Reality of RWA

The RWA’s main goal is to work towards the common welfare of all the residents of a society. However, many times disputes arise between the society’s residents and the RWA members. Some common complaints that are received by RWA members are mentioned below:

Conclusion

The Resident Welfare Association (RWA) is a crucial body for any society, as it looks after the interests and welfare of the society’s members. RWA plays a major role in improving the amenities and shared facilities, looking after the internal roads’ condition, making sure streetlights & drainage are working properly, maintaining overall cleanliness, and ensuring all the residents get access to civic amenities like electricity and water. In prominent societies, RWAs have to do much more work. For instance, in major societies, RWAs also need to look after and manage commercial activities within the residential society's boundaries, in shops, banks, bazaars, etc. If you need assistance in RWA registration, get in touch with Registrationwala now!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is an RWA?

A. An RWA (Resident Welfare Association) is a group formed by residents of a housing society to manage common facilities and look after residents’ welfare.

Q2. Is RWA registration mandatory?

A. Yes, RWA must be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, to function legally.

Q3. Who can become an RWA member?

A. Any resident of the society can apply for membership, subject to RWA rules.

Q4. What is the role of an RWA?

A. RWA manages maintenance, common facilities, amenities, cleanliness, and welfare activities for the society.

Q5. How is an RWA funded?

A. Through membership fees, subscriptions, and donations from residents.

 

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