The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 gives allottees statutory rights to project information, contractual disclosures and specified remedies, while imposing registration, disclosure and financial-discipline duties on covered promoters. In Karnataka, verify the project and use the current services on the official Karnataka RERA portal.

Do all real-estate projects require RERA registration?

No. Section 3 of the Act requires registration before advertising, marketing, booking, selling or offering for sale a project in a planning area, subject to statutory exemptions and the applicable threshold. Whether a particular project or phase must be registered depends on its facts and the governing provisions. Check the current project record on the official Karnataka RERA portal.

Important rights of an allottee

Project information: access to sanctioned plans, specifications and information the promoter is required to disclose.
Completion schedule: information about stage-wise completion and promised possession in accordance with the agreement and disclosures.
Agreement protections: the promoter cannot take more than the statutory advance threshold without first entering into a written and registered agreement for sale as required by section 13.
Delay remedies: section 18 provides refund, interest or compensation remedies in specified circumstances; entitlement depends on the agreement, facts and relief chosen.
Defect liability: section 14(3) addresses structural or specified workmanship, quality, service or promoter-obligation defects notified within five years of possession and requires rectification within 30 days, failing which compensation may be available.
Possession and documents: rights relating to possession and documents as provided by the Act, rules and agreement.

Key promoter obligations

Register each covered project or phase and keep mandatory project information updated.
Make required disclosures and avoid false or misleading representations.
Use 70% of amounts realised from allottees for the project in a separate scheduled-bank account, with withdrawals linked to completion and supported by the statutory certifications.
Follow sanctioned plans and project specifications, subject to the Act’s rules for permitted changes and allottee consent.
Execute conveyance and hand over documents as required by the Act, rules and agreement.

How can a home buyer raise a Karnataka RERA complaint?

Identify the registered project, promoter and specific obligation or representation involved.
Collect the allotment, agreement, payment, correspondence, possession, project-page and supporting records.
Check the current complaint route, format, fee and filing instructions on the official Karnataka RERA portal.
State the facts, provision or contractual obligation relied on, and the precise relief sought.
Track notices, hearings, orders and any compliance or appeal step through the appropriate portal or forum.

A lawyer is not automatically required to file every complaint. Legal advice may be useful where forum selection, limitation, competing remedies, interim protection, compensation evidence, settlement or enforcement is disputed.

Is RERA required to decide every complaint within 60 days?

Section 29 states that the Authority should endeavour to dispose of questions before it within 60 days, and record reasons where it does not. It should not be presented as a guaranteed completion date for every complaint.

RERA, consumer and civil remedies can overlap

The appropriate route depends on the facts and relief. A RERA complaint, consumer proceeding, civil suit, arbitration question or contractual remedy may have different jurisdiction and consequences. This guide does not treat one route as universally preferable. For a broader dispute overview, see the property-dispute process guide.

Before booking a property

Confirm the project and phase registration on the authority’s own portal.
Compare the advertised details with sanctioned plans, approvals, completion schedule and portal disclosures.
Read the agreement, payment schedule, cancellation, possession, defect and dispute clauses before committing funds.
Complete independent title and document checks; RERA registration is not a substitute for property legal due diligence.
Keep copies of advertisements, disclosures, receipts and correspondence.

Legal assistance for a specific matter

For advice about a builder dispute, delayed possession, agreement, title issue or forum strategy, see Kapil Dixit LLP’s property-law services in Bangalore.

Official sources

This guide provides general legal information. Property rights and remedies depend on the documents, facts, applicable law and forum. Obtain advice on the specific property or dispute before acting.