Enacted in 2016, the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act — RERA — is India's most important home buyer protection law. Yet fewer than 30% of buyers understand their rights under it. This guide covers everything you need to know.
What Does RERA Do?
- ✓Mandates registration of all real estate projects above 500 sq m or 8 units.
- ✓Requires builders to disclose project details, approvals, and timelines publicly.
- ✓Forces builders to deposit 70% of buyer funds into an escrow account — protecting against fund diversion.
- ✓Sets penalties of up to 10% of project cost for builders who violate RERA rules.
- ✓Establishes a Dispute Redressal Forum where buyers can file complaints and expect resolution within 60 days.
How to Verify a Project on RERA in 2 Minutes
- 1.Visit your state's RERA portal (e.g., RERA Telangana, MahaRERA, K-RERA).
- 2.Search by project name or RERA registration number.
- 3.Check the registration expiry date — expired projects are a red flag.
- 4.Verify the number of approved units matches what the builder is advertising.
- 5.Check the 'Complaints' section for any buyer grievances against the builder.
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All projects on AI-Ghar are RERA-verified. Every listing shows the RERA number so you can verify independently in seconds.
Your Key Rights Under RERA
- ✓Right to accurate information: Builders must not advertise features not approved in the plan.
- ✓Right to timely possession: Delay entitles you to interest at SBI MCLR + 2% for every month of delay.
- ✓Right to defect liability: Builders must fix structural defects reported within 5 years of possession at no cost.
- ✓Right to refund: If the builder fails to deliver, you can claim a full refund with interest.
- ✓Right to grievance redressal: File a complaint with the state RERA authority — cases must be decided within 60 days.
Common RERA Red Flags to Watch For
- ✓RERA registration number not displayed in advertisements — legally required.
- ✓Project website lacks RERA details — builders must display them.
- ✓RERA expiry date has passed without extension — major risk.
- ✓Approved plan area is significantly smaller than advertised — deceptive marketing.
- ✓Multiple complaints on the RERA portal — check before booking.
State RERA Portals Quick Reference
- ✓Telangana: rera.telangana.gov.in
- ✓Maharashtra: maharerait.maharashtra.gov.in
- ✓Karnataka: rera.karnataka.gov.in
- ✓Tamil Nadu: tnrera.in
- ✓Delhi: rera.delhi.gov.in
- ✓UP (Noida / Greater Noida): up-rera.in
- ✓Gujarat: gujrera.gujarat.gov.in
- ✓West Bengal: hira.wb.gov.in