Buying basics · 4 min read
RERA explained for NRI buyers: the protections you actually get
The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, known as RERA, changed how Indian homes are sold. If you are buying from another country, it is the single most useful safeguard you have, because you can check a project online before you transfer any money.
What it requires from a developer
- Projects above the size thresholds must be registered with the state RERA authority before they are advertised or sold.
- The registration carries the project details, the approved plans, the stated completion date and the promoter information.
- A portion of what buyers pay must be held in a separate project account and used for that project. Your state authority publishes the exact rules.
- Developers must report progress, and delays have consequences such as interest payable to buyers.
What it means for you
Always ask for the RERA number, and check it yourself on the state portal. Compare the project name, promoter, location and completion date with what you were shown. If the numbers do not match the sales material, stop and ask why.
Two cautions
- RERA improves your position, it does not remove risk. Read the agreement for sale and the payment schedule carefully.
- Rules and portals differ from one state to another. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh each run their own authority.
Each 52Gaz project page links to the relevant state RERA website so you can verify the registration yourself.
Want a private walkthrough?
Compare RERA-registered projects with the exact price sheet and floor plans, on a video call at a time that suits your time zone.