Booking a flat in Hyderabad? Check TG-RERA registration first, and know the 10% advance rule

Last updated 13 Oct 2026 · Telangana

Short answer. Under section 3 of the RERA Act, a promoter cannot advertise, market, book or sell flats or plots in a project without registering it with the RERA authority, unless the land is 500 sq m or less or the project has 8 apartments or fewer (all phases together). So for most Hyderabad projects: no registration number, no booking. The promoter also cannot take more than 10% of the cost as an advance or application fee before a written agreement for sale (s.13), according to the Housing Ministry's RERA FAQ.

Why this matters

RERA registration puts the project's approvals, promoter details and progress on the regulator's website, where the promoter must keep them updated (some information every quarter). If a project is not registered when it should be, you lose that public record and the easiest route to complain.

How to check a project in 10 minutes

Ask the sales team for the TG-RERA registration number (it should also appear on ads and brochures).
Open the TG-RERA website and use its project search for the registration number or project name.
Match the promoter's name, project address, number of units and phase with what you were told.
Open the uploaded approvals and the project's quarterly updates. Note the completion date the promoter declared.
Check whether the registration is current (the site lists revoked and renewed registrations).

Common mistakes

Paying a "small" booking amount first. Over 10% before a registered agreement for sale is not allowed; even below that, pay only to the project's account and get a receipt.
Trusting "RERA applied". Applied is not registered. Booking and marketing need a registration.
Checking the wrong phase. Big projects register phases separately. Your tower must be in the registered phase.
Assuming small projects are covered. Projects up to 500 sq m of land or 8 apartments can be outside RERA, so do more title checks yourself.
Ignoring defects after moving in. The promoter is liable for structural and other specified defects for 5 years from possession and must fix them within 30 days of being told.

Checklist before you pay

TG-RERA number seen on the regulator's site, not just a brochure
Promoter, address, phase and unit count match
Approvals and declared completion date downloaded
Advance at or below 10% until the agreement for sale is signed
Payment to the project account, with receipt
Your own lawyer checks title before the agreement

Frequently asked questions

Which projects must register with TG-RERA?

Under section 3 of the RERA Act, projects in a planning area must be registered before they are advertised, booked or sold, except where the land is 500 sq m or less or there are 8 apartments or fewer, including all phases.

How much booking amount can a builder take in Telangana before the agreement?

Section 13 of the RERA Act says the promoter cannot accept more than 10% of the apartment or plot cost as an advance or application fee without first executing an agreement for sale.

How long is the builder liable for defects?

Under section 14(2), for 5 years from handing over possession, for structural and other specified defects, which the promoter must fix within 30 days.

Where do I complain about a Telangana real estate project?

TG-RERA runs an online complaints portal at complaints-rera.telangana.gov.in.

Official sources

Not legal advice. A free explainer of the RERA Act and the Housing Ministry's FAQ; your own lawyer should check title and documents before you sign or pay. Last checked 13 Oct 2026.

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