RERA — Homebuyer Protections in India
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Indian central (Union) law — Constitution of India, central Acts of Parliament, and Supreme Court decisions. State-level information reflects each state's own Acts and High Court rulings. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
RERA was the long-overdue answer to the Indian real-estate industry's worst decade. Through the early 2010s, builders collected money from thousands of buyers, started construction, ran out of money, and walked away — leaving families with EMIs on flats that existed only in brochures. The 2016 statute pulled that practice apart.
- Mandatory registration: any project over 500 sq m of plot area or with more than 8 apartments must be registered with the State RERA Authority before a single advertisement, brochure or booking is allowed.
- Right to information (s. 11): approved plans, layout, specifications, completion date and sanctioned permits all live on the state RERA portal. You can pull them up before signing anything.
- Escrow account (s. 4(2)(l)): 70% of buyer money must sit in a separate escrow account that can only be drawn down for construction costs of that project. This is the rule that ended the practice of using one project's money to bail out another.
- Compensation for delay (s. 18): if the developer misses the agreed possession date, you can either take a full refund with interest at SBI MCLR + 2%, or keep the booking and collect interest until possession actually happens. The choice is yours, not the builder's.
- Structural defect liability (s. 14(3)): any structural defect surfacing within 5 years of possession must be repaired or compensated within 30 days. Cracks, leaks, sinking floors — all on the builder's tab.
- No forced alterations (s. 14(2)): the builder cannot change sanctioned plans without each buyer's written consent. The old trick of "adjusting" carpet area or shrinking common amenities is no longer legal.
When does it apply?
- You have booked a flat or plot in a RERA-registered project and possession is running late.
- The builder is altering the sanctioned plan without your consent.
- You have spotted a structural defect within five years of taking possession.
- The project turns out to be unregistered and you were sold on the strength of glossy plans.
What to Do If Your Builder in India Delays Possession or Breaches RERA
RERA cases are won on registration numbers and dated correspondence. Before you fight, make sure you have both.
- Verify RERA registration before booking. Each state has its own portal — maharera.mahaonline.gov.in for Maharashtra, hrera.org.in for Haryana. Type the project name; if it does not appear, do not pay.
- For delayed possession, send a written notice to the developer first. If the deadline passes again, file a complaint on the State RERA portal. The RERA Adjudicating Officer hears the matter and orders refund or compensation.
- Appeals from RERA orders go to the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (REAT), and from there to the High Court. The route is well-trodden — many states process appeals within 60–90 days.
- For serious non-compliance, the RERA Authority can de-register the builder's agent and revoke the project registration entirely. That is the nuclear option, and it has been used.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not pay more than 10% of the agreement value as advance before a registered sale agreement is executed (s. 13). Unregistered projects cannot lawfully collect even that.
- Do not sign a sale agreement without checking that every RERA-specified disclosure is in it. The form clauses are mandatory; missing ones are signs of a project that has something to hide.
- Do not let the builder impose unilateral changes by calling them "standard practice." They are not. Every material amendment needs your written consent.
Use the jurisdiction bar at the top of the page to pick your state — you'll see how state law differs from Indian central law.
8 states available
Common Questions
When does rera — homebuyer protections apply?
You have booked a flat or plot in a RERA-registered project and possession is running late.The builder is altering the sanctioned plan without your consent.You have spotted a structural defect within five years of taking possession.The project turns out to be unregistered and you were sold on the strength of glossy plans.
What should I do if my builder in India is delaying possession of my flat?
RERA cases are won on registration numbers and dated correspondence. Before you fight, make sure you have both.Verify RERA registration before booking. Each state has its own portal — maharera.mahaonline.gov.in for Maharashtra, hrera.org.in for Haryana. Type the project name; if it does not appear, do not pay.For delayed possession, send a written notice to the developer first. If the deadline passes again, file a complaint on the State RERA portal. The RERA Adjudicating Officer hears the matter and orders refund or compensation.Appeals from RERA orders go to the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal...
What mistakes should I avoid with rera — homebuyer protections?
Do not pay more than 10% of the agreement value as advance before a registered sale agreement is executed (s. 13). Unregistered projects cannot lawfully collect even that.Do not sign a sale agreement without checking that every RERA-specified disclosure is in it. The form clauses are mandatory; missing ones are signs of a project that has something to hide.Do not let the builder impose unilateral changes by calling them "standard practice." They are not. Every material amendment needs your written consent.
RERA — Homebuyer Protections in other states
Same topic, different jurisdiction. Pick the one that applies to you.