RERA in Practice: What Lawyers Are Seeing on the Ground in 2025

As a real estate lawyer in Delhi NCR working closely with homebuyers, developers, and investors, I’m often asked: Has the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) truly delivered on its promise?The answer is: partially yes—but the real impact of RERA depends on which state you’re in. Drawing from my legal practice, here’s a state-wise view of how RERA is functioning in Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand as of May 2025.

Maharashtra RERA: A Model for Transparency, But Lacks Execution

MahaRERA has registered over 50,000 housing projects, setting a national benchmark for real estate regulation. It mandates:

- Full project disclosures

- Use of escrow accounts (70% buyer funds)

- Real estate agent registration

It has also helped recover crores in refunds and compensation for homebuyers. However, enforcement remains weak. Many developers delay compliance by filing for insolvency under the NCLT.

As lawyers, we frequently assist clients in enforcing RERA orders through civil or execution proceedings when authorities fall short.

Haryana RERA: Strong Rulings, Weak Enforcement

Haryana RERA has issued pro-consumer rulings, including significant penalties for delayed projects. Thousands of complaints have been resolved but bureaucratic hurdles slow down enforcement. Many homebuyers wait months (or years) to receive awarded compensation.

Legal Insight:The authority’s reliance on district collectors and revenue departments leads to execution delays—often requiring litigation support to recover dues.

Uttar Pradesh RERA: Greater Noida Struggles with Delays

UP RERA is active in Greater Noida, a major hub for delayed housing projects. While the authority has penalized developers and resolved many complaints, it cannot enforce orders directly.Instead, it relies on state revenue departments, causing long delays in:

- Registry of completed flats

- Recovery of compensations

Uttarakhand RERA: Weak Oversight in Emerging Markets

In cities like Udham Singh Nagar, RERA struggles to control illegal developments. Issues include:

- Unauthorized colonies on agricultural land

- Few adjudicating officers

- Lack of land-use enforcement

Uttarakhand shows that RERA’s success is tied to state-level infrastructure, staffing, and political will.

The Lawyer’s Verdict: RERA is a Work in Progress

Since 2016, RERA has brought greater transparency to India's real estate market, especially through:

- Mandatory project registration

- Use of escrow accounts

- Public access to project details

Yet, enforcement gaps, legal loopholes, and low awareness limit its effectiveness.

What Can Be Done?

As lawyers, we advocate for:

- Uniform implementation across states

- Stronger enforcement powers for RERA authorities

- Legal support for homebuyers to recover dues

- Public education about homebuyer rights under RERA

Author:

Raghav Mahajan

(Partner)
Jurist International | www.juristinternational.in