What is RERA and how will it impact the real estate industry and home buyers?

Compulsory registration: According to the central act, every real estate project (where the total area to be developed exceeds 500 sq mtrs or more than 8 apartments is proposed to be developed in any phase), must be registered with its respective state’s RERA. Existing projects where the completion certificate (CC) or occupancy certificate (OC) has not been issued, are also required to comply with the registration requirements under the Act. While applying for registration, promoters are required to provide detailed information on the project e.g. land status, details of the promoter, approvals, schedule of completion, etc. Only when registration is completed and other approvals (construction related) are in place, can the project be marketed.

Reserve account: One of the primary reasons for delay of projects was that funds collected from one project, would invariably be diverted to fund new, different projects. To prevent such a diversion, promoters are now required to park 70% of all project receivables into a separate reserve account. The proceeds of such account can only be used towards land and construction expenses and will be required to be certified by a professional.

Continual disclosures by promoters: After the implementation of the Act, home buyers will be able to monitor the progress of the project on the RERA website since promoters will be required to make periodic submissions to the regulator regarding the progress of the project.

Title representation: Promoters are now required to make a positive warranty on his right title and interest on the land, which can be used later against him by the home buyer, should any title defect be discovered. Additionally, they are required to obtain insurance against the title and construction of the projects, proceeds of which shall go to the allottee upon execution of the agreement of sale.

Standardisation of sale agreement: The Act prescribes a standard model sale agreement to be entered into between promoters and homebuyers. Typically, promoters insert punitive clauses against home buyers which penalised them for any default while similar defaults by the promoter attracted negligible or no penalty. Such penal clauses could well be a thing of the past and home buyers can look forward to more balanced agreements in the future.

Penalty: To ensure that violation of the Act is not taken lightly, stiff monetary penalty (up to 10% of the project cost) and imprisonment has been prescribed against violators.

RERA definition of carpet area 

Gautam Chatterjee, Maharashtra RERA chairman, explains that “It is now mandatory for the developers of all ongoing projects, to disclose the size of their apartments, on the basis on carpet area (i.e., the area within four walls). This includes usable spaces, like kitchen and toilets. This imparts clarity, which was not the case earlier.”

According to the RERA, carpet area is defined as ‘the net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by the external walls, areas under services shafts, exclusive balcony or verandah area and exclusive open terrace area, but includes the area covered by the internal partition walls of the apartment’.

Rahul Shah, CEO of Sumer Group, points out that “As per the RERA guidelines, a builder must disclose the exact carpet area, so that a customer knows what he is paying for. However, the act does not make it mandatory for the builders, to sell a flat on the basis of carpet area.”

Impact of RERA on real estate industry

• Initial backlog.
• Increased project cost.
• Tight liquidity.
• Rise in cost of capital.
• Consolidation.
• Increase in project launch time.

With the advent of RERA, specialised forums such as the State Real Estate Regulatory Authority and the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal, will be established for the resolution of disputes pertaining to home buying and the aggrieved party will have no recourse to other consumer forums and civil courts, on such matters. While the RERA sets the groundwork for fast-tracking dispute resolution, the litmus test for its success, will depend on the timely setting up of these new dispute resolution bodies and how these disputes are resolved expeditiously with a degree of finality.

RERA in states

Maharashtra RERA

Uttar Pradesh RERA

Karnataka RERA

Tamil Nadu RERA

 Which projects come under RERA

• Commercial and residential projects including plotted development.
• Projects measuring more than 500 sq mts or 8 units.
• Projects without Completion Certificate, before commencement of the Act.
• The project is only for the purpose of renovation / repair / re-development which does not involve re-allotment and marketing, advertising, selling or new allotment of any apartments, plot or building in the real estate project, will not come under RERA.
• Each phase is to be treated as standalone real estate project requiring fresh registration.

How can a builder be RERA compliant 

• Project registration.
• Advertisement.
• Withdrawal – POC method.
• Website updation/ Disclosures.
• Carpet area.
• Alteration in project – approval of 2/3 allottees.
• Project accounts – Audit.
• 70% of the funds collected from allottees needs to be deposited in the project account. Withdrawals to cover construction and land cost.
• Withdrawals to be in proportion to the percentage completion method.
• Withdrawal to be certified by an engineer, architect, and CA.
• Provision for RERA to freeze project bank accounts upon non-compliance.
• Interest on delay will be same for customer and promoter.

What information does a builder need to provide under RERA

• Number, type and carpet area of apartments.
• Consent from affected allottees for any major addition or alteration.
• Quarterly updating of RERA website with details such as unsold inventory and pending approvals.
• Project completion time frame.
• No false statements or commitments in advertisement.
• No arbitrary cancellation of units by promoter.

How to register projects under RERA

• Authenticated copy of all approvals, commencement certificate, sanctioned plan, layout plan, specification, plan of development work, proposed facilities, Proforma allotment letter, agreement for sale and conveyance deed to be given when
• Applying for project registration with RERA.
• Mandatory registration of new and existing projects with RERA before launch.
• Registration of agents/brokers with RERA.
• Dispute resolution within 6 months at RERA and RERA appellate tribunals.
• Separate registration of different phases of a single projects.
• Developers to share details of projects launched in last 5 years with status and reason for delay with RERA.
• Timely updating of RERA website.
• Maximum 1 year extension in case of delay due to no fault of developer.
• Annual audit of project accounts by a CA.
• Conveyance deed for common area in favour of RWA.
• Construction and land title insurance.
• Project completion time period.

How will RERA impact insurance cost for construction and land title

• Land and approval costs to be meted out of internal accruals as prelaunch concept may end. It may lead to a shift in equity financing from debt financing prevailing currently. The cost of capital may go up as developers may now have to fund the land and approval cost through equity.
• With frequent delay in obtaining approvals, debt funding may not be an ideal route for developers. With entry in the sector made difficult, the sector may witness consolidation.
• Strong financial and execution capability is required to launch a project. The development model/agreement may gain prominence.
• The project launch time may increase since a lot of time will be involved in finalizing finer details before launching a project.
• Details such as complete drawings, utilities layout, etc., needs to be finalized before project starts.

How will RERA impact real estate agents

“It will bring a lot of accountability in the industry and the ones who believe in professional and transparent business, will reap all the benefits. Now, the agents will have a much larger and responsible role to perform, as they will have to disclose all the appropriate information to the customer and even help them chose a RERA-compliant developer,” says Sam Chopra, founder and chairman of RE/MAX India.

With RERA in force, brokers cannot promise any amenities or services that are not mentioned in the documents. Moreover, they will have to provide all information and documents to the home buyers, at the time of booking. Consequently, RERA is likely to filter out the inexperienced, unprofessional, fly-by-night operators, as brokers not following the guidelines will face hefty penalty or jail or both.

How can brokers become RERA compliant

1. Section 3: Promoter cannot advertise, book, sell or offer for sale, without registration with RERA.
2. Section 9:

• No agent can sell any project without obtaining RERA registration.
• Agents’ RERA number needs to be documented in every sale facilitated by him.
• Registration needs to be renewed.
• Registration can be revoked or blocked if any breach is made to conditions of registration for a specified time.

3. Section 10:

• No agent can sell a project not registered.
• Maintain books and records.
• Not be involved in unfair trade practices.
  • Make an incorrect statement – oral, written, visual.
  • Represent that services are of a particular standard.
  • Represent that the promoter or himself has approval or affiliation which such promoter or himself does not have.
  • Permit publication of advertisement in newspaper or otherwise of services not intended to be offered.

• Agent needs to facilitate possession of all documents to the allottee at the time of booking.

When and how should you file a complaint under RERA?

A complaint under the RERA, is required to be in the form prescribed under the respective states’ rules. The complaint can be filed with respect to a project registered under RERA, within the prescribed time limit, for violation or contravention of provisions of the act or the rules or regulations framed under RERA.

“For cases pending before the NCDRC or other consumer fora, the complainants/ allottees can withdraw the case and approach the authority under the RERA. Other offences (except complaints under Section 12, 14, 18 and 19) can be filed before the RERA authority,” explains Ajay Monga, partner at SNG & Partners law firm.

Applicable penalties under RERA

Benefits of RERA