How to verify a RERA registration before you pay anything

A RERA number is the first thing to ask for, and the easiest thing to check yourself.

Check it on the official website

1. Open your state's RERA website (for Maharashtra, MahaRERA).
2. Search the project by its registration number or name.
3. Compare the details on the page with what the seller told you.

What to compare

• Project name and promoter. They should match the brochure and the agreement.
• Completion date. This is the date the builder has promised to the authority. It should match the possession date you were quoted.
• Number of units and sold units. A project with very few units on record but a large sales pitch deserves a question.
• Complaints. The page lists complaints filed against the project or promoter.

Before you transfer money

• Pay the booking amount only against a receipt that names the project and unit.
• Keep a copy of the registration certificate with the booking papers.
• Ask for the agreement draft early, and read the possession and refund clauses.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For a large purchase, have a lawyer read the agreement.