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Table of Contents
1. What Is RERA? (Plain English)
The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 — commonly called RERA — is a law passed by the Indian Parliament in March 2016 to protect apartment buyers from builder fraud, project delays, and misleading advertising. It came into full force on May 1, 2017.
Before RERA, builders could advertise non-existent amenities, quote prices on inflated "super built-up area", collect your money and divert it to other projects, delay possession by years with no penalty, and change plans after you'd paid. RERA changed all of that.
Karnataka RERA became operational with an interim authority on July 14, 2017, and the regular authority was established on March 7, 2019. As of 2025, Karnataka RERA has:
in Karnataka
Estate Agents
After Possession
Go to Project Escrow
2. 6 Rights RERA Gives You as a Buyer
Right #1: Carpet Area Pricing
Builders must sell apartments based on carpet area — the actual usable space within walls. No more "super built-up area" tricks that inflate your apartment size by 25-40%. When a builder quotes ₹8,000/sqft, you know exactly how much usable space you're paying for.
Right #2: 70% Escrow Protection
Developers must deposit at least 70% of buyer payments in a dedicated project escrow account. This money can only be used for that specific project's land and construction costs. Withdrawals require certification by the project engineer, architect, and chartered accountant. This prevents builders from diverting your money to fund other projects.
Right #3: No Advance Over 10%
Builders cannot collect more than 10% of the apartment cost as advance or booking amount before you sign the sale agreement. This prevents pressure tactics where builders demand large sums before you've had time to review the agreement.
Right #4: Penalty for Delayed Possession
If a builder fails to deliver your apartment by the agreed date, they must pay you interest at SBI MCLR + 2% (approximately 10-12% per annum) on the amount you've paid — for every month of delay. You can also choose to withdraw entirely and get a full refund with interest.
Right #5: 5-Year Defect Liability
Under Section 14(3), builders are liable to fix any structural defect or defect in workmanship, quality, or services for 5 years after handing over possession — at no cost to you. If they don't fix it within 30 days of your complaint, you can claim compensation through RERA.
Right #6: Accurate Advertising
Builders cannot advertise amenities, specifications, or features they don't intend to deliver. Every advertisement must include the RERA registration number. Any promise made in marketing material is legally binding under RERA.
Which Projects Must Register Under RERA?
Any project with more than 8 apartments/units or land area exceeding 500 sq meters must register with Karnataka RERA before advertising or selling. If a builder is selling without RERA registration, it's illegal — and you have zero protection if things go wrong.
3. How to Verify a Project on Karnataka RERA Portal
Verifying a project takes 2 minutes. Here's how:
- Visit rera.karnataka.gov.in
- Click "Project" in the top navigation menu
- Click "Search Project"
- Enter the project name or RERA registration number (the builder should provide this — if they can't, that's a red flag)
- Review the project details page
What to check on the project page:
- Project status — Is it "Ongoing" or "Completed"? Match this with what the builder claims.
- Approved building plan — Match the total units, floors, and layout with what you're being sold.
- Completion timeline — The RERA-registered completion date is the legally binding deadline, not the sales brochure date.
- Promoter/developer details — Verify the entity name matches your sale agreement.
- Quarterly updates — Regular updates indicate an active, compliant developer. Missing updates are a red flag.
- Financial statements — RERA requires developers to submit audited financials. This shows project financial health.
Bookmark This Portal
Save rera.karnataka.gov.in in your browser. You'll need it multiple times during your buying journey — for verifying projects, checking builder track records, and filing complaints if needed. Contact: 080-22249798 | info.rera@karnataka.gov.in
4. What to Do If a Builder Delays Possession
Under Section 18 of RERA, you have two clear options if a builder fails to deliver by the committed date:
| Option | What You Get | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Option 1: Withdraw | Full refund of all amounts paid + interest at SBI MCLR + 2% from the date of each payment | When the delay is excessive (1+ years) or you've lost confidence in the builder |
| Option 2: Continue | Monthly interest at SBI MCLR + 2% on the amount paid, until possession is delivered | When the project is nearing completion and you still want the apartment |
How to file a RERA complaint in Karnataka
- Visit rera.karnataka.gov.in and create an account
- Go to "Complaint" section and click "File Complaint"
- Enter project details: RERA number, builder name, your unit number, agreement date, promised possession date
- Upload supporting documents (sale agreement, payment receipts, correspondence with builder) — maximum 20 pages
- Pay the filing fee: ₹1,000 (online payment)
- Track your complaint status online using the complaint number
Don't Wait Too Long to File
File your complaint as soon as the possession date passes. Delays in filing can weaken your case. Keep all communication with the builder (emails, WhatsApp messages, letters) as evidence. RERA authorities have been actively penalising builders — in one notable MahaRERA case, a builder was directed to pay ₹60 lakh in interest for a 3-year delay.
5. Why Buying Through a RERA Broker Protects You
Under RERA, real estate agents must also be registered. Here's why that matters:
| Aspect | RERA-Registered Agent | Unregistered Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Legal authority | Legally authorised to sell RERA projects | Cannot legally facilitate sales in RERA projects |
| Information disclosure | Must disclose all material facts about the project | No obligation — can make false promises |
| Accountability | Answerable to RERA authority; registration can be revoked | No regulatory oversight |
| Penalty for violations | Registration revocation + fine | ₹10,000/day fine for operating without registration (up to 5% of project cost) |
| Buyer recourse | Buyer can file RERA complaint against the agent | No regulatory recourse — only civil court |
When you buy through a RERA-registered agent, you get an additional layer of accountability. The agent is legally bound to provide accurate information, cannot make false promises about returns or amenities, and can be held liable through the RERA authority if they mislead you.
6. Estate Hive's RERA Registration
Estate Hive is RERA Registered
Verify on rera.karnataka.gov.in → Agent Search
As a RERA-registered agent, Estate Hive is legally bound to provide accurate project information, disclose all material facts, and act in the buyer's interest. We only list RERA-registered projects from verified developers.
What this means for you:
- Every project we list is RERA-verified — we cross-check registration numbers on the Karnataka RERA portal before listing any project.
- We cannot (and will not) make false promises — our RERA registration is at stake. What we tell you about a project is what we've verified.
- You have regulatory recourse — if you're ever unhappy with our service, you can file a complaint with RERA. That accountability keeps us honest.
- Zero brokerage for buyers — we earn through developer partnerships, so our service is completely free for apartment buyers.
Browse RERA-Verified Projects in Bangalore
Every project on Estate Hive is RERA-registered and verified. Browse apartments from Prestige, Godrej, Sobha, Brigade & more — with free expert guidance.
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7. Frequently Asked Questions
RERA (Real Estate Regulation and Development Act, 2016) was passed by Parliament in March 2016 and came into full force on May 1, 2017. Karnataka RERA became operational with an interim authority on July 14, 2017. The regular authority was established on March 7, 2019. As of 2025, Karnataka RERA has 8,357 registered projects and 5,417 registered agents.
Visit rera.karnataka.gov.in → Click "Project" → "Search Project" → Enter the project name or RERA registration number. The portal shows approved building plans, promoter details, completion timeline, financial statements, and quarterly progress reports. Every project with more than 8 units or land exceeding 500 sq meters must be registered.
Under Section 18 of RERA, you have two options: (1) Withdraw and get a full refund plus interest at SBI MCLR + 2%, or (2) Continue and claim monthly interest at SBI MCLR + 2% until possession. File a complaint on rera.karnataka.gov.in for ₹1,000 filing fee. Keep all communication with the builder as evidence.
Under Section 14(3), builders must fix any structural defect or workmanship issue for 5 years after handing over possession — at no cost to the buyer. They must rectify defects within 30 days of receiving your complaint. If not fixed, you can claim compensation through RERA.
RERA-registered agents are legally authorised to sell RERA projects, must disclose all material facts, cannot make false promises, and are accountable to the RERA authority. Unregistered agents face ₹10,000/day penalty and offer you zero regulatory protection. Buying through a RERA agent gives you an additional complaint channel if things go wrong.
Yes. Estate Hive's RERA registration number is PRM/KA/RERA/1251/309/AG/251029/006418. You can verify this on rera.karnataka.gov.in under Agent Search. We only list RERA-registered projects and provide free, verified guidance to apartment buyers in Bangalore.