RERA Explained: What Every First-Time Home Buyer in Patna Must Know

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 — better known as RERA — is the single most important law protecting home buyers in India today. Yet most first-time buyers in Patna either don't know it exists or don't know how to use it. This guide changes that.

What RERA Actually Does

RERA was designed to solve a specific problem: developers collecting money from buyers upfront and then delivering late, or not at all. Before RERA, your booking amount could sit in a developer's account for years with no accountability.

RERA fixes this by:

• Requiring registration before sales begin. A developer cannot take any booking amount or advertise a project until it is registered with the Bihar RERA authority and has a RERA registration number.
• Mandating 70% escrow. At least 70% of all buyer payments must go into a dedicated project account and can only be withdrawn against verified construction milestones.
• Enforcing carpet area transparency. Developers must quote prices on carpet area (the actual usable space inside your flat) — not super built-up area, which can inflate numbers by 30–40%.
• Setting delivery timelines. Every registered project has a declared possession date. If the developer misses it, buyers are entitled to either a refund with interest or continued interest compensation.

How to Verify a Project on Bihar RERA

This takes under five minutes and can save you from a nightmare.

Step 1: Go to the Bihar RERA Portal

Visit the official Bihar RERA website. The portal lists every registered project in the state.

Step 2: Search by Project Name or Developer

Type the project name or developer company name. The result will show the RERA registration number, registered project details, and current status.

Step 3: Check These Four Things

Once you find the project listing, verify:

1. Registration status — Should say "Registered" with a valid expiry date beyond the declared possession date.
2. Approved plans — The portal shows the approved floor plans and number of units. Verify this matches what you're being sold.
3. Quarterly updates — Developers are required to file quarterly progress reports. Check if they're being filed regularly. An absent filing history is a red flag.
4. Complaints section — See if there are any pending complaints against the developer.

Your Rights as a Buyer Under RERA

Once you sign a sale agreement on a RERA-registered project, you have enforceable rights:

Right to Information

You can demand the approved building plan, structural design certificate, and all project approvals at any time. The developer cannot refuse.

Right to Timely Possession

If possession is delayed, you are entitled to interest at the SBI MCLR + 2% on every rupee you've paid, from the declared possession date until actual handover.

Right to Refund

If you decide to exit due to a delay of more than 6 months, you can claim a full refund with interest. You don't need to go to civil court — RERA has its own fast-track adjudication.

Right to Structural Defect Rectification

For five years post-possession, if structural defects appear, the developer is liable to fix them at no cost to you.

Common Red Flags to Watch For

Not all developers operate in good faith. Watch for these warning signs:

• No RERA number displayed on advertising materials, the website, or the sale agreement. This is illegal, not just suspicious.
• Prices quoted on super built-up area or plinth area rather than carpet area. Ask explicitly: "What is the carpet area price per square foot?"
• Vague possession timelines. "Approximately 18–24 months" is not a commitment. A RERA-registered project has a specific possession date on the registration.
• Pressure to book before the project is RERA registered. "We'll get registration soon, just block it now" is a classic pitch. Do not pay until registration is confirmed.

What to Check in a Sale Agreement

The sale agreement is the document that protects you legally. Before signing, ensure it includes:

• The RERA registration number
• Carpet area and super built-up area both stated explicitly
• Declared possession date with penalty clause for delay
• Payment schedule tied to construction milestones (not arbitrary timelines)
• Clause on what happens if the project is delayed beyond 6 months

If any of these are missing, ask for an amendment before signing. A reputable developer will not resist reasonable buyer protections.

Farmview Heights and RERA

Farmview Heights by Maa Devrani Engicon Pvt. Ltd. is a RERA-registered project. Before visiting or enquiring, you can verify the registration on the Bihar RERA portal. We display our RERA number on all marketing materials and in every sale agreement — because transparency is not optional, it's the baseline.

When you're ready to evaluate a flat, we'll walk you through the approved plans, the construction timeline, and the payment schedule — all tied to the RERA filing. That's the standard every buyer deserves.