RERA in Uttarakhand: How to Check a Project Before You Book

If you're booking a flat or a home in a new project, RERA — the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 — is your strongest protection. In Uttarakhand it's enforced by the Uttarakhand Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Uttarakhand RERA). Here's what it means for you and how to check a project before you pay a booking amount.

Which projects must be registered?

Under the Act, most new residential projects must be registered with the state RERA before they can be advertised or sold — generally projects on more than 500 square metres of land or with more than eight units. Plotted developments are covered too. Small projects below these limits may not need registration, so ask the builder directly.

Real estate agents who sell units in registered projects must also be registered with RERA.

How to check a project

On the Uttarakhand RERA website you can search for a project by its name or registration number. Check:

• that the registration number in the advertisement matches the RERA record
• the promoter's name and their other projects
• the approved plans and layout
• the declared completion date
• the quarterly progress updates the builder has filed
• any complaints or orders against the project or builder

If a builder can't show you a RERA registration number for a project that needs one, treat that as a serious warning.

Key protections RERA gives buyers

• Carpet area pricing: flats must be sold on carpet area — the usable area inside the walls — not an inflated super area
• Limited advance: the builder can't take more than 10% of the cost as an advance before signing a registered agreement for sale
• Escrow of buyers' money: 70% of the money collected must go into a separate account for that project, so it can't be diverted elsewhere
• No changes without consent: the builder needs your written consent to change your unit's plan, and the consent of two-thirds of buyers to change the building plan
• Delay compensation: if possession is delayed, you can claim interest for the delay or withdraw with a refund and interest
• Defect liability: the builder must fix structural defects reported within five years of possession

Before you book

• Visit the site and compare progress with the RERA updates
• Read the agreement for sale carefully — it should follow the RERA format
• Tie payments to construction stages, not dates
• Pay only by bank transfer and keep every receipt

Our guides to ready vs under-construction homes and documents to check before buying cover the rest of your checks.

Buying a resale or independent house?

RERA mainly protects buyers of new projects. For a resale home or an independent house from an individual owner, the title documents are what protect you — so the document checklist matters even more.

Looking for apartments in Rudrapur? Tell us your budget and we'll shortlist homes with clear papers.

Cover photo: @iparthsavani / Unsplash (illustrative).