Swathi N

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) was enacted to bring transparency, accountability, and fairness to India’s real estate sector. One of its most significant contributions is the establishment of a robust enforcement mechanism that holds promoters, agents, and other stakeholders accountable. Chapter VIII of the Act, which deals with Offences, Penalties and Adjudication,...

Most people associate RERA with residential projects, but many are still unsure about its application to commercial projects. Does RERA really cover commercial spaces such as shops, offices, and malls? The answer is yes, but with specific conditions.  Commercial real estate in India has transformed with the rise of corporate leasing and co-working models, while traditionally, it was governed by contract...

“Smart property moves for NRIs: Stay compliant, stay secure”  The Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) governs what Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) can purchase.   NRIs investing in Indian real estate must carefully structure transactions under FEMA rules to avoid penalties, ensure smooth repatriation of funds, and mitigate risks of blocked...

How India’s real estate dispute framework allows homebuyers to pursue remedies through RERA Authorities, Consumer Commissions, and insolvency proceedings before the NCLT. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) was enacted to address chronic issues in India’s real estate sector, including project delays, lack of transparency, and weak consumer protection. A key feature...

Smart lending starts with RERA—balancing mortgage risk and opportunity  Real estate financing in India traditionally relied on balance sheet lending, often plagued by opacity and diversion of funds. The enactment of RERA introduced mandatory project registration, escrow mechanisms, and disclosure obligations, thereby reshaping the risk profile for lenders and homebuyers alike. Against this backdrop, the...

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) was enacted to address chronic issues of delay, opacity, and buyer exploitation in India’s real estate sector. By imposing compliance obligations and governance duties on developers and promoters, RERA seeks to balance the interests of stakeholders and restore buyer confidence. Judicial interpretations have further clarified the scope of these obligations,...

For developers, strict RERA compliance is a statutory obligation and a signal of credibility. For buyers, it provides enforceable rights and remedies that were previously elusive.   The RERA framework in India is designed to ensure that real estate transactions are structured transparently and fairly. The enactment of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) marked a watershed moment in India’s real estate sector. Designed to bring transparency, accountability, and consumer protection, RERA fundamentally reshaped how transactions are structured between...

Smart Investments begins with Strong Due Diligence – From Compliance to Confidence  Project Investigation under RERA refers to the scrutiny and compliance verification of real estate projects to ensure that, they adhere to the rules and regulations set by the RERA Act, 2016. This process involves evaluating project approvals, financial records, construction progress, legal compliance, and grievances...

From Compliance to Capital Protection: RERA’s Legal Impact on HNIs and Institutional Investors  Introduction – Context and Rationale The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) fundamentally altered India’s real estate investment landscape by introducing a rules-based regulatory regime focused on transparency, accountability and consumer protection.  Indian real estate has long presented a paradox. On one...