Before you pay a booking advance for a flat in Chennai, search the project on the Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority website. Under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, projects on more than 500 sq m of land, or with more than eight apartments, must be registered with TNRERA before they are advertised or sold. Agents who market them must be registered too.
The check takes about ten minutes and tells you whether the builder’s claims match what was filed with the regulator. The authority itself is also in a transition this year, which affects how complaints are being heard.
Who must register, and what a registration means
The project thresholds come from Section 3 of the Act and the agent rule from Section 9.
- Projects: Land above 500 sq m or more than eight units, counting all phases. Smaller projects are outside the requirement, so a four-flat building in Ashok Nagar may not have a RERA number at all. That is not illegal, but it means you lose RERA’s complaint route.
- Agents: Anyone who sells plots, flats or buildings in a registered project as an agent must also be registered with TNRERA. Check the authority’s website for the current fee and documents.
A RERA registration is not a quality certificate. It means the promoter has filed approvals, a timeline and disclosures that the authority can hold them to.
How to verify a project
- Ask the builder for the TNRERA registration number. It should be printed on brochures, hoardings and online listings.
- On rera.tn.gov.in, open the list of registered projects and search by number, project name or promoter.
- Open the project page and check the promoter’s name, the site address and survey numbers, the number of units and blocks, and the declared completion date.
- Look at the uploaded documents: the planning permit, the building permit and the title documents. The permit number should match the approval issued by CMDA or the local body.
- Check the quarterly progress updates the builder must file. A project whose updates stopped months ago is a warning sign.
- If the completion date has been extended, the page should show the extension order.
Cross-check the planning permission on the CMDA website, which has digitised planning permission records and runs the online application system. If the floors or unit count on the brochure are more than what was approved, ask why.
Red flags to watch for
- A brochure or hoarding with no TNRERA number for a project that clearly has more than eight flats.
- A request for a large booking amount before the agreement for sale is signed.
- A completion date in the sales pitch that is earlier than the one filed with TNRERA.
How to verify an agent
Ask the broker for their TNRERA agent registration number and search for it on the portal. Check that the name matches the person or firm you are dealing with and that the registration has not lapsed, since agent registrations have to be renewed. A broker who is vague about this, or says registration is “not required for resale”, may be right about resale but should still be checked if they are selling a new project.
If something goes wrong: complaints
Buyers can file complaints online or on paper. Complaints to the authority and claims for compensation before the adjudicating officer use separate forms, available on the TNRERA website. Appeals against TNRERA orders go to the Tamil Nadu Real Estate Appellate Tribunal. In July 2026, for example, the tribunal ruled that a Sobha executive could not be dropped from an owners’ association complaint at a preliminary stage, LiveLaw reported.
The authority’s membership changed this year. After the previous chairperson and two members resigned, the state named retired IAS officer K. Phanindra Reddy as TNRERA chairperson in July 2026, DT Next reported. The authority has continued to hear complaints and issue orders since then.
Check the TNRERA website for the current office address and working hours before you visit. For a complaint involving large sums or a delayed project, consult a lawyer on whether to approach TNRERA, the adjudicating officer or a consumer commission.
Quick answers
Does a resale flat need a RERA number?
RERA registration applies to projects being sold by promoters. A resale between individuals in a completed building does not need a new registration, but checking the original project’s record still helps.
My builder says the project is “RERA applied”. Is that enough?
No. Projects above the threshold cannot be advertised or sold until registered. Wait for the number to appear on the portal.
Is TNRERA hearing complaints right now?
Yes. A new chairperson was appointed in July 2026, and the authority has been issuing orders on complaints since.
Do I need a lawyer to file a complaint?
No. Buyers can file on their own, online or on paper. For a large claim, a lawyer’s advice helps.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
