How do I file a RERA complaint in Tamil Nadu against a builder (TNRERA)?
Updated · 26 July 2026
TNRERA (Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority) handles complaints for Tamil Nadu projects. File online at tnrera.in. Filing fee is ₹1,000 for individual allottees. TNRERA covers Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and all Tamil Nadu districts. Delay interest is at SBI MCLR + 2%. TNRERA also adjudicates disputes for pre-2017 apartments registered under the Tamil Nadu Apartment Ownership Act, 1994.
What complaints does TNRERA handle?
- Delayed possession: Interest at MCLR+2% for delay period, or refund + interest.
- Construction defects: Within 5 years under Section 14(3).
- Undelivered amenities: Car parking, common areas, specified finishes not as per approved plan.
- Title and encumbrance issues: Undisclosed mortgage or encumbrance on the land.
- Pre-2017 TNAOA apartments: TNRERA has held jurisdiction over older Chennai apartments under the Tamil Nadu Apartment Ownership Act 1994 — particularly for undivided share (UDS) disputes, common area handover, and corpus fund non-transfer.
Step-by-step: filing on the TNRERA portal
1. Verify project registration at tnrera.in → Registered Projects; note TNRERA number and registered completion date.
2. Create account on tnrera.in with email, mobile, Aadhaar/PAN OTP.
3. Complete complaint form: project number, chronological facts, specific relief with interest calculation.
4. Upload: allotment letter, registered sale agreement, payment receipts, demand letters, defect photographs.
5. Pay ₹1,000 online; keep payment acknowledgement.
6. Receive complaint number and hearing date (typically 45–60 days at TNRERA's Chennai office). Video conferencing available for outstation complainants.
7. Orders appealable to Tamil Nadu Real Estate Appellate Tribunal within 60 days.
2. Create account on tnrera.in with email, mobile, Aadhaar/PAN OTP.
3. Complete complaint form: project number, chronological facts, specific relief with interest calculation.
4. Upload: allotment letter, registered sale agreement, payment receipts, demand letters, defect photographs.
5. Pay ₹1,000 online; keep payment acknowledgement.
6. Receive complaint number and hearing date (typically 45–60 days at TNRERA's Chennai office). Video conferencing available for outstation complainants.
7. Orders appealable to Tamil Nadu Real Estate Appellate Tribunal within 60 days.
Delay interest and refund calculation under TNRERA
Tamil Nadu prescribes SBI MCLR + 2% per annum, compounded monthly. This accrues from the day after the registered possession date. For refund: full amount paid + interest at MCLR+2% from each payment date to refund date.
Additional compensation under Section 18(3) of RERA is available for false or misleading statements — covers mental agony, alternative accommodation costs, and professional fees, separate from delay interest.
Buyers should calculate interest payment-by-payment and state the total clearly in the complaint — TNRERA orders typically follow the stated calculation if receipts are provided.
Additional compensation under Section 18(3) of RERA is available for false or misleading statements — covers mental agony, alternative accommodation costs, and professional fees, separate from delay interest.
Buyers should calculate interest payment-by-payment and state the total clearly in the complaint — TNRERA orders typically follow the stated calculation if receipts are provided.
TNRERA's approach to older Chennai TNAOA apartments
A significant number of Chennai apartments were registered under the Tamil Nadu Apartment Ownership Act, 1994 before RERA came into force. TNRERA has taken jurisdiction over disputes involving such apartments, particularly:
- Builder-controlled associations blocking formation of the residents' association under TNAOA.
- Undivided share of land (UDS) in sale deed being less than the proportional entitlement.
- Corpus fund and advance maintenance amounts collected by the builder not transferred to the RWA.
Reference Citation: Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (Sections 14, 18, 31, 40); Tamil Nadu Real Estate Rules, 2017; Tamil Nadu Apartment Ownership Act, 1994; tnrera.in
Disclaimer: Content provided here is for general legal knowledge only and does not constitute formal legal advice. If you have an urgent or specific matter, please consult a registered advocate.