News: HRERA Gurugram Warns Buyers Against Unregistered Projects-15-08-2026
The Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HRERA), Gurugram, has issued a public advisory warning buyers not to purchase or book plots, flats, villas, apartments or other units in unregistered real estate projects. Such transactions can invite legal action and leave buyers without the protection of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, it said.
In the advisory of Aug 14, the authority asked prospective buyers to verify a project’s RERA registration certificate and number, website, approved site address and other details on its portal before investing. With a large volume of residential and commercial supply expected, it noted, buyers may be approached with pre-launch schemes, promotional offers or bookings before projects have approvals and registration. A booking offer or campaign is not proof that a project is legally ready for sale.
Arun Kumar, chairman, HRERA Gurugram, told Hindustan Times newspaper that the sale, marketing, booking or purchase of units in an unregistered project violates the RERA Act. He advised buyers to invest only in registered projects.
HRERA had issued a similar advisory in January, asking buyers and investors to deal only with registered property agents.
Pooja Rao Putrevu, founder of Annex Legal, said that for most middle- and upper-middle-class families a property purchase involves their life savings, which makes diligence of "paramount importance". She suggested five checks.
First, verify the registration number on the state RERA website and confirm that the portal’s details match what the developer or seller has provided. She said registration lets a buyer act with confidence if the developer defaults or misses timelines, since the seller is bound by the Act.
Second, check the approved site address, developer details and website on the portal, and treat any mismatch as a red flag.
Third, ask for link documents showing the history of land ownership and how the developer acquired rights over the land.
Fourth, verify the required approvals, permits and sanctioned plans, since RERA registration should not be the only check.
Fifth, have the documents reviewed by a lawyer specialising in real estate law.
Such diligence, she said, reduces the risk of disputes, delayed possession and problems with title and approvals.


