How do I file a complaint against a builder before the RERA Authority under Section 31?

Question

I want to file a formal complaint against my builder for construction defects and delay. What is the procedure under RERA Section 31? What I am unsure about is the procedure — where the application goes, what it costs, and how long rera complaint procedure matters usually take. A plain explanation of the steps, in order, would help more than a general answer.

MyVakeel Legal Desk · Accepted Answer

The law that applies to rera complaint procedure here is RERA Act 2016, Section 31, RERA Act 2016, Section 71 and RERA Act 2016, Section 43. The detail below matters, because RERA Act 2016, Section 31 draws the line differently depending on what your documents show.

Section 31 allows any aggrieved allottee, promoter or real estate agent to file a complaint before the state Real Estate Regulatory Authority against violations of the Act, rules or regulations.

Complaints involving compensation claims are adjudicated by the Adjudicating Officer appointed under Section 71, while other regulatory complaints such as registration violations are decided by the Authority itself.

The complaint must be filed online or physically in the prescribed form along with a modest filing fee, the builder-buyer agreement, payment receipts and correspondence showing the grievance.

The Authority is expected to dispose of complaints as expeditiously as possible, and in any case within 60 days from the date of receipt, though timelines often extend in practice.

An order of the RERA Authority or Adjudicating Officer can be appealed to the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal under Section 43 within 60 days of the order.

What this means for you: 1) Gather the registered agreement for sale, payment proofs and all builder correspondence; 2) File the complaint in the prescribed format on the state RERA portal with the requisite fee; 3) Attend the hearings before the Authority or Adjudicating Officer as scheduled; 4) File an appeal before the Appellate Tribunal within 60 days if dissatisfied with the outcome.

Where the facts are disputed, what usually decides a rera complaint procedure matter is the paper trail — dated complaints, acknowledgments and written replies under RERA Act 2016, Section 31. You can post the details on the MyVakeel forum for a practising advocate to review, or book a paid consultation with a Bar Council verified lawyer in property law.