Written by the LawLine legal & compliance editorial teamSources and editorial policy · Independent professional review not recordedVerify current amendments and local requirements before acting.

Quick answer

A RERA complaint under section 31 raises a violation of the real-estate regulatory framework. Section 18 may support refund, interest or compensation where its conditions are met. LawLine connects you with an independent advocate to assess documents, choose the appropriate forum and verify state rules; no relief or recovery is guaranteed.

Also searched as: rera complaint online · rera section 18 refund · rera delay interest complaint

Overview

What you need to know about Rera complaint | Advocate Help

A RERA complaint can address specified breaches by a promoter, allottee or real-estate agent under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. The first task is to identify the project, respondent, breach and legally available relief. A delayed project does not automatically establish every requested remedy, and project registration alone does not decide the merits of an individual claim.

Section 31 permits an aggrieved person to file a complaint for violations of the Act or applicable rules and regulations. Section 18 addresses return of amount, interest and compensation in specified situations, including qualifying failure to complete or give possession. An allottee who remains in the project may seek delay interest under the relevant provision. The correct forum for refund or interest and for adjudication of compensation must be assessed separately.

Complaint forms, fees, prescribed interest rates and filing workflows depend on the state or union territory. Maharashtra’s MahaRERA distinguishes ordinary complaints from source information and source complaints about unregistered projects; the free source-information route is not the same as an individual refund claim. Check the relevant portal and current rules before selecting a filing category or calculating relief. LawLine connects users with independent Bar Council-enrolled advocates and does not itself practise law. The advocate provides legal advice and remains responsible for the agreed professional work. Confirm scope, charges and exclusions in writing before proceeding.

Is this for you?

Who needs this and when

This service can assist homebuyers concerned about delayed possession, misleading project commitments or other covered breaches. Bring the agreement, payment trail and the project’s current portal information. Explain whether you want to remain in the project or withdraw, because the factual and legal basis for interest and refund can differ.

It is also useful where buyers have already exchanged notices or joined another proceeding. Disclose any consumer case, insolvency process, settlement or earlier order before filing. Multiple forums and remedies need coordinated advice; another complaint should not be treated as an automatic way to obtain duplicate relief or ignore an existing procedural restriction.

Benefits

What you get with LawLine

Match the alleged breach and desired relief to the correct RERA forum and state procedure.
Separate refund, continuing-project delay interest and compensation calculations instead of combining unexplained figures.
Understand the difference between document preparation, formal submission and a decision by the competent authority; these are not interchangeable deliverables.
Receive a practical checklist identifying available evidence, missing records and factual inconsistencies to resolve before signing statements or paying official charges.
Separate the indicative professional fee from government payments and optional work, with a written scope covering representation, revisions and follow-up where agreed.
Plan the next step using your documents and objective, without promised approval, guaranteed recovery or an assumed completion date.

Process

Step-by-step: how it works

1Explain the objective and urgent issuesShare the result you need, relevant location, important dates and any immediate safety or financial concern. Provide earlier applications, notices or orders. The advocate should first assess whether this service fits the problem, whether another route is necessary and whether a deadline requires action before routine preparation.
2Review records and agree the scopeSupply readable records through the agreed channel and identify anything missing or disputed. Ask for an itemised written quote covering the proposed professional work and expected expenses.
3Check the draft and required formalitiesReview names, dates, addresses, descriptions and factual statements carefully before approval. Complete the applicable execution, payment or submission formalities only after the correct route is confirmed; never sign blank forms or a statement you know is inaccurate.
4Retain proof and plan follow-upKeep signed documents, official receipts and any acknowledgement or case reference. Respond to queries through the agreed process and record the next action and responsible person.

Documents required

Clear scans or phone photos are enough to get started.

Agreement for sale, allotment letter and booking terms.
Receipts and a chronological statement of payments.
Project registration details and relevant portal disclosures.
Promised possession date and documents recording extensions.
Emails, notices and representations supporting the alleged breach.
A relief calculation with assumptions and supporting figures.
Earlier complaints, settlements and orders concerning the same dispute.

Pricing

Cost breakdown

Item	Amount	What it means
Indicative professional starting fee	₹4,999	Subject to the independent advocate’s written quote after reviewing the facts. Confirm whether consultation, drafting, revisions, submission assistance and attendance are included; the starting figure is not an all-inclusive package or a promise that every case can be handled at this price.
Government or court charges	As applicable; verify with the competent authority	The charge may depend on the state, document, asset value, category or forum. Some services have no official application fee. Pay through authorised channels and retain the receipt; do not treat a professional-service invoice as proof that a government payment has been made.
Supporting records and third-party expenses	Actual approved expense, where needed	Copies, translations, publication, authentication, searches or travel may arise depending on the route.
Additional representation or later work	Separate written quote if outside the agreed scope	Objections, contested hearings, repeat attendance, appeals, corrections and enforcement can be distinct tasks. Obtain approval before expanding the engagement.

The starting price is an indicative professional fee only, subject to the independent advocate’s written quote. Government charges, court fees, stamp duty, publication, tax and third-party expenses are separate where applicable.

Timeline

How long it takes

Initial assessment and route selection
Arrange with the advocate; depends on urgency, availability and the information supplied.
Document collection and clarification
Depends on missing records, third-party responses and resolution of inconsistent facts.
Drafting, review and formal submission
Agree a preparation estimate separately; appointments and lawful formalities may add time.
Authority processing, queries or hearings
Controlled by the relevant procedure and authority; statutory periods are not universal completion promises.
Completion checks and any further action
Depends on the issued document or order and whether correction, compliance or enforcement is necessary.

Avoid delays

Common mistakes to avoid

Match the alleged breach and desired relief to the correct RERA forum and state procedure. A familiar service name is not enough to establish the correct legal route.
Relying on a forwarded checklist without checking the authority, location and applicant category. Requirements for a different state, institution or factual situation may not fit your case.
Signing a draft without checking every factual statement. A misspelled name, wrong date, incomplete disclosure or inconsistent description can cause queries and may have consequences beyond a simple clerical correction.
Confusing professional fees with official payments. Ask for separate figures, payment instructions and receipts, and obtain approval for additional expenses before they are incurred.
Assuming that filing means approval or that an issued document automatically completes related tasks. Keep the acknowledgement, understand what remains pending and confirm responsibility for follow-up.

Next steps

After it’s done: staying compliant

Track service, hearing directions and filing deadlines after submission. If an order is issued, read the operative directions rather than relying on a summary of the result. Check compliance, appeal and enforcement options promptly; an order in your favour does not itself guarantee that the respondent will pay voluntarily.

Keep a secure master set of the records and share copies only as needed through an appropriate channel. Record outstanding tasks, deadlines and the person responsible for each one. If your circumstances change or a new objection appears, obtain fresh advice before reusing an earlier draft or assuming that the original engagement covers the new problem.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What does section 31 allow?

It provides a complaint mechanism for an aggrieved person alleging a violation of the Act or applicable rules and regulations. The complaint should identify the respondent, project, facts and relief. It is not a substitute for explaining the legal breach or producing the relevant agreement and payment records.

Is a delayed buyer always entitled to refund?

Not automatically on every set of facts. Section 18 has statutory conditions, and the agreement, dates, project status and relief elected require examination. A buyer continuing with the project may pursue a different interest claim. Ask the advocate to explain the chosen remedy and the evidence supporting it.

Is there one national interest rate?

No. The prescribed rate depends on applicable rules, and calculations also depend on dates, payments and the relief claimed. Use the relevant state framework and show the calculation transparently. An estimate is not an adjudicated entitlement, and an eventual order may differ from the amount requested.

Can I complain about an unregistered project?

Potentially, but first establish whether the project was required to register and identify the appropriate route. MahaRERA distinguishes source information from source complaints. Informing the authority about non-registration does not necessarily constitute an individual claim for refund, interest or compensation, so choose the filing category carefully.

Does an order mean immediate payment?

No. Compliance and enforcement can be separate stages, and appeals or other proceedings may affect the next steps. Preserve the final order and calculate what it actually directs. Any execution, recovery or appeal work should be separately discussed and included in a written scope if needed.

Key takeaways

Begin with the intended use and actual facts; the right service is the one that addresses your legal objective, not simply the most familiar document name.
Check current local requirements and provide complete records before signing, submitting or paying. Disclose earlier proceedings and relevant disagreements rather than leaving them to emerge during verification.
Treat the displayed price as indicative professional fees only. Use the advocate’s written scope and quote to understand inclusions, exclusions, expenses and any later work.
LawLine connects you with independent Bar Council-enrolled advocates and does not itself practise law. Authorities and courts decide applications; no advocate or platform can guarantee the outcome.

Official sources & government portals

This guide is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Laws and fees change; confirm with an expert before acting.

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