Builder Verification & Property Due Diligence Checklist (India)
Last verified: June 2026. Property rules, rates and processes vary by state/municipality and change over time — confirm with the relevant authority. General information, not legal advice.
Before you hand over money for a home, verifying the builder and the project is the single best way to avoid a stuck or disputed purchase. Here is a practical due-diligence checklist.
1. RERA registration
Confirm the project is RERA-registered and the number on ads matches the state portal. Review disclosures, timelines and any complaints.
2. Title and land records
Verify the builder has clear title to the land and check the encumbrance certificate for mortgages or disputes. Ask for the title deed and mother deed.
3. Approvals
Check the commencement certificate, sanctioned plan/layout approval, and for ready units the occupancy certificate (OC) and completion certificate. Never take possession without an OC.
4. Track record
Look at the builder’s past projects — were they delivered on time and to spec? Search for litigation, news and buyer reviews.
5. Financial & legal health
For under-construction projects, a builder’s financial stress is a red flag for delays. Check for pending cases and whether bank loans are approved on the project (banks do their own due diligence).
6. The paperwork at booking
Read the builder-buyer agreement carefully — payment schedule (prefer construction-linked), penalty clauses for delay, carpet area, and what’s included. Pay through traceable banking channels into the RERA escrow account.
FAQs
How do I verify a builder before buying?
Check RERA registration, clear title and EC, all approvals (commencement, layout, OC), the builder’s delivery track record, and any litigation.
What is an occupancy certificate?
A certificate confirming the building is built per approvals and fit to occupy; don’t take possession without it.
How should I pay the builder?
Through banking channels into the project’s RERA escrow account, on a construction-linked schedule.
