How to Check RERA Registration of a Project in Karnataka

Before you book a flat or plot in an under-construction project in Karnataka, the single most useful thing you can do takes ten minutes and costs nothing: look the project up on the Karnataka RERA website. It shows whether the project is registered, when the builder promised to finish it, whether that date has already been pushed back, what approvals were filed, and whether other buyers have complained.

This guide walks through the official website step by step and explains how to read what you find. It is based on the Karnataka RERA portal as it appeared in October 2026.

1. Why RERA registration matters

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) came into force in Karnataka on 1 May 2017, and the state's rules were notified in July 2017. The Act gives buyers protections that only work for registered projects:

• No registration, no selling. A promoter may not advertise, book or sell plots or apartments in a project that needs registration until it is registered. Registration is required when the land is larger than 500 square metres or the project has more than eight apartments.
• Your money is ring-fenced. The promoter must deposit 70% of the money collected from buyers into a separate bank account, to be used only for the project's land and construction costs.
• Limited advance. The promoter cannot take more than 10% of the price as an advance or application fee before signing and registering a written agreement for sale.
• Remedies for delay. If possession is delayed beyond the agreed date, you can choose to withdraw and get a refund with interest, or stay and receive interest for every month of delay.
• Five-year defect liability. The builder must fix structural and workmanship defects reported within five years of possession. See our guide to checking construction quality.
• Transparency. Plans, approvals, completion dates and progress updates are published on the RERA website for anyone to check.

2. Find the registration number

Every registered project gets a registration number, and RERA requires promoters to show it, along with the RERA website address, in their advertisements. Look for it on the brochure, hoardings, newspaper ads, the builder's website and the booking form.

Karnataka project registration numbers follow this pattern:

PRM/KA/RERA/1251/XXX/PR/YYMMDD/XXXXXX

If the builder cannot give you a registration number at all for a project that needs one, treat it as a serious warning sign.

3. Search for the project, step by step

1. Open rera.karnataka.gov.in. The site may open in Kannada; click English at the top to switch.
2. From the menu, choose Services › Project Status. You can also click Know Project Status on the home page.
3. Fill in at least one search field: Project Name, Promoter / Company / Firm Name, Application No or Registration No. You can narrow the search by District and Taluk.
4. Click Search.

Tip: search by the promoter's company name as well as the project name. Marketing names often differ from the registered name, and a promoter search also shows the builder's other projects and their track record.

4. How to read the search results

Each project in the results table has these key columns:

• Status: whether the registration is approved. The same page also lists applications that were rejected, and projects that were withdrawn or revoked.
• Project type: for example residential or group housing, or plotted development. Make sure it matches what you are buying.
• Approved on: the date the registration was granted.
• Proposed completion date at the time of registration and the current proposed completion date: compare the two. If the current date is later, the project has already been delayed.
• COVID-19 extension, Section 6 extension and further extension dates: extensions granted to the project. Section 6 of the Act allows the registration to be extended in case of force majeure. Repeated extensions mean a project is running late.
• Certificate: the registration certificate, which you can view and download.
• Complaints / Litigation: complaints filed with RERA against the project.

Compare the completion date with what the builder is telling you. If the salesperson promises possession next year but RERA shows a completion date that has already been extended twice, believe the RERA record.

5. What to check in the project details

Click the View Project Details icon for the full record. It is long, but these parts matter most:

• Promoter details and previous projects: the promoter's company details and projects from the last five years. Look those up too, and check whether they were finished on time.
• Land owner details: who owns the land. If it is a joint development with landowners, both parties' details appear here.
• Project details and development details: the land area, number of buildings and units, and the amenities promised.
• Project bank (escrow account) details: the separate account that holds 70% of buyers' money. Pay only into the project's designated account, never into personal accounts.
• Architects, structural engineers and contractors: the professionals named for the project.
• Modification of plan: any change from the registered plan, shown as "as per registered plan" against "as per modified plan". Changes after you book can affect your flat or common areas.
• NOC details and project documents: approvals such as the sanctioned plan and no-objection certificates, financial documents, declarations and project photos.
• Tower details: every unit by tower and floor, with its unit type and carpet area. Find the exact flat you are being offered and compare its carpet area with the quote.
• Complaint details: each complaint's number, date, subject and any order. Several complaints about delay or refunds are a strong warning.

6. Warning lists on the portal

Karnataka RERA publishes several lists that are worth a quick look. The numbers below were correct when we checked in October 2026.

• Rejected applications (957) and withdrawn or revoked projects (107): shown on the same Project Status page. A project on these lists does not have valid RERA registration.
• Default and lapsed projects (home page, "Default Project List"): projects whose proposed completion date has expired. The portal itself warns that buyers "may take an informed decision accordingly". There were 3,013 lapsed projects on the list.
• Projects under investigation (menu: Unregistered Projects): projects that the authority is looking into for selling without registration.
• Complaint reports (menu: Complaints): reports of complaints by promoter and by project, plus searchable orders and the list of revenue recovery certificates issued to recover amounts that promoters were ordered to pay.

7. Check your agent or broker too

Real estate agents who sell in registered projects must also register with RERA, and they are not allowed to sell projects that need registration but don't have it. To check an agent, go to Services › Agent Status and search by agent name, company or firm name, or registration number. The results show the agent's status, approval date and expiry date. Agent registrations expire, and the portal lists agents whose registration has lapsed.

Agent registration numbers look like PRM/KA/RERA/1251/XXX/AG/YYMMDD/XXXXXX, with "AG" where a project number has "PR".

8. Red flags at a glance

• The builder gives no RERA number, or only an acknowledgement number, for a project that needs registration.
• The project or promoter name in the RERA record does not match the brochure, or the project type is different.
• The current completion date is well beyond the one at registration, especially after several extensions.
• The project appears on the rejected, revoked, lapsed or under-investigation lists.
• There are many complaints about delays, refunds or quality.
• The flat you are offered is not in the tower details, or its carpet area differs from the quote.
• You are asked to pay more than 10% before a registered agreement for sale, or to pay into an account other than the project's.
• The agent is not registered, or their registration has expired.

9. If something is wrong

• Ask the builder in writing to explain anything that doesn't match, and keep the reply.
• File a complaint with Karnataka RERA online through the complaint registration section of the website (you need to create a login). Complaints can be filed against promoters, buyers and agents for violations of the Act.
• Report an unregistered project through the "Report Unregistered Projects" option under the Unregistered Projects menu.
• Appeal: RERA orders can be appealed to the Karnataka Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (K-REAT), which has its own section on the website.
• Contact: Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority, 2nd Floor, Silver Jubilee Block, Unity Building, CSI Compound, 3rd Cross, Mission Road, Bengaluru 560027. Phone: 080-22249798 / 22249799.

Frequently asked questions

Is RERA registration compulsory for every project?

No. It is required for real estate projects, both apartments and plotted developments, unless the land is 500 square metres or less and there are eight or fewer apartments. Some other exemptions apply, such as projects completed before the Act came into force.

Does RERA registration mean the building is good quality?

No. Registration means the promoter has disclosed the project's details and is accountable under the Act. It is not a quality certificate. You should still check the construction yourself; see our construction quality checklist.

What if I can't find the project on the RERA website?

Try searching by the promoter's company name and the district instead of the project name. If it still doesn't appear and the project needs registration, do not pay any money until the builder can show you a valid registration number.

What does a "lapsed" project mean?

The proposed completion date recorded with RERA has passed. It does not always mean the project is abandoned, but it does mean it is late. Check for extensions, complaints and recent progress before buying.

Do I need to check RERA for a resale flat?

RERA mainly regulates sales by the promoter. For a resale flat in a completed building, focus on the occupancy certificate, title documents and the seller's ownership. Checking the project's RERA record is still useful for its history, complaints and approved plans.

Portal steps and figures are from the Karnataka RERA website (rera.karnataka.gov.in), checked in October 2026. Legal points refer to the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, Sections 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18 and 31. Website menus can change. This article is general information, not legal advice.