RERA complaints — delayed possession, refund, compensation
Real-estate complaints go to your state RERA authority — not to e-Jagriti. The portal is picked by where the property is, not where you live. This route only exists for RERA-registered projects; for an unregistered project, the remedy is the Consumer Commission or a civil court.
Two forums — pick the right one
| RERA Authority | Adjudicating Officer | |
|---|---|---|
| For | Refund with interest, interest for the delay, or possession of the flat | Compensation for loss — under Sections 12 (false advertising), 14 (unauthorised changes), 18 (delay loss beyond interest) and 19 (information failures) |
| Section | Section 31 | Section 71 |
| Form | Form M in most states; Form A in Maharashtra | Form N in most states; Form B in Tamil Nadu and Kerala |
| Fee | ₹1,000 in most states; ₹5,000 in Maharashtra | Usually ₹5,000 |
| Disposal target | 60 days target (Section 29(4)) | 60 days target (Section 71(2)) |
Sources: iPleaders — RERA complaint procedure 2026, Neeraj Associates — UP RERA complaint guide, Business Standard — how to file a RERA complaint, NoBroker — how to file a RERA complaint
Limitation: Generally 3 years from the cause of action (Limitation Act, Article 137, as applied by the courts — the RERA Act itself does not fix a period). File sooner rather than later.
Interest: Typically SBI MCLR + 2% per year. State rules differ — for example, Uttar Pradesh rules link interest to SBI MCLR + 1%. Check your state portal for the rate it applies.
Appeal: Either side may appeal to the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal within 60 days of receiving the order (Section 44).
State RERA portals — forms and fees
| State | Portal | Authority — form & fee | Adjudicating Officer — form & fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | maharera.maharashtra.gov.in verified | Form A — ₹5,000 | Form N — confirm on portal — ₹5,000 | Conciliation Forum available for settlement |
| Uttar Pradesh | up-rera.in verified | Form M — ₹1,000 | Form N — ₹5,000 | Settlement bench available; interest linked to SBI MCLR + 1% |
| Tamil Nadu | rera.tn.gov.in verified | Form M — ₹1,000 + ₹600 postage | Form N — ₹5,000 + ₹600 postage | ₹600 postage charge is payable in addition to the fee |
| Karnataka | rera.karnataka.gov.in confirm on portal | Form M (most states) — ₹1,000 (most states) | Form N (most states) — ₹5,000 (typical) | Confirm the form and fee on the portal before paying |
| Haryana | haryanarera.gov.in confirm on portal | Form M (most states) — ₹1,000 (most states) | Form N (most states) — ₹5,000 (typical) | Gurugram and Panchkula benches |
| Gujarat | gujrera.gujarat.gov.in confirm on portal | Form M (most states) — ₹1,000 (most states) | Form N (most states) — ₹5,000 (typical) | Confirm the form and fee on the portal before paying |
| Telangana | rera.telangana.gov.in confirm on portal | Form M (most states) — ₹1,000 (most states) | Form N (most states) — ₹5,000 (typical) | Confirm the form and fee on the portal before paying |
| Delhi | rera.delhi.gov.in confirm on portal | Form M (most states) — ₹1,000 (most states) | Form N (most states) — ₹5,000 (typical) | Confirm the form and fee on the portal before paying |
| West Bengal | rera.wb.gov.in confirm on portal | Form M (most states) — ₹1,000 (most states) | Form N (most states) — ₹5,000 (typical) | WBRERA active since 2021 — the earlier HIRA law was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2021 |
| Andhra Pradesh | rera.ap.gov.in confirm on portal | Form M (most states) — ₹1,000 (most states) | Form N (most states) — ₹5,000 (typical) | Confirm the form and fee on the portal before paying |
Portal URLs are the official portals confirmed by multiple published directories. “Confirm on portal” means the form and fee are the usual ones for most states — check the figure shown on your state portal before paying. For states not listed here, find your RERA on the national portal rera.gov.in.
Sources: Magicbricks — state-wise RERA websites, iPleaders — RERA complaint procedure 2026, Neeraj Associates — UP RERA complaint guide, TNRERA — complaint fee details (official fee document), Zomefy — how to complain to MahaRERA, DuoCounsel — RERA state portals & fees
What you can claim (Section 18)
If the promoter fails to complete the project or hand over possession by the date agreed in the agreement for sale, you have an unqualified right to either stay and claim interest for the delay, or withdraw and take a full refund of everything you paid, with interest. The builder may not deduct anything from a Section 18 refund. If the builder ignores the order, the amount is recoverable as arrears of land revenue (Section 40).
Find your RERA route → Delayed possession guide →
Frequently asked questions
- Should I file with the RERA Authority or the Adjudicating Officer?
- Refund, interest or possession go to the RERA Authority (Section 31, usually Form M). Compensation for loss — beyond interest — goes to the Adjudicating Officer (Section 71, usually Form N). Many homebuyers file both.
- What is the RERA complaint fee?
- ₹1,000 in most states and ₹5,000 in Maharashtra for the Authority; usually ₹5,000 for the Adjudicating Officer. Tamil Nadu charges ₹600 postage in addition. Confirm the fee on your state portal before paying.
- How long does a RERA complaint take?
- The disposal target is 60 days for both the Authority and the Adjudicating Officer. In practice many complaints take longer; if the target is missed, the forum must record its reasons.