Delhi RERA (DRERA) Complaint Procedure 2026: rera.delhi.gov.in Walkthrough

DRERA was constituted by Notification dated 24 November 2016 under the Delhi Real Estate (Regulation and Development) (General) Rules 2016. Its territorial jurisdiction extends to projects in the NCT of Delhi only — Connaught Place, South Delhi, North Delhi, East Delhi, Dwarka, Rohini, Narela, Najafgarh, etc.

Common mis-filings to avoid:

• Noida / Greater Noida / Yamuna Expressway → UP-RERA Lucknow (or NCR bench at Gautam Budh Nagar — though most filings go to Lucknow).
• Gurugram / Faridabad → HRERA Gurugram.
• Ghaziabad → UP-RERA.
• Sonipat / Bahadurgarh → HRERA Panchkula.

The Delhi RERA registration certificate (downloadable from rera.delhi.gov.in/registered-projects) is dispositive — only projects with a DRERA registration number (format DLRERA2018PXXXXX) can be complained against in DRERA. If the developer claims 'no DRERA registration required because the project was launched pre-2017', verify under Section 3 — any project larger than 500 sqm or 8 apartments launched after 1 May 2017 mandatorily required registration.

Delhi has fewer mega-projects than Gurugram or Noida, so DRERA's docket is heavy on mid-sized apartment redevelopments, plotted developments under MPD-2021, DDA-approved cooperative group housing societies (CGHS) and refurbished slum-redevelopment buildings. The common grounds for complaint are:

1. Delayed possession (Section 18) — claim refund + MCLR+1% interest OR continued possession with delay compensation.
2. Occupation Certificate issues — Delhi has a particular issue with promoters offering 'partial OC' (only for some floors) and DRERA has held this is non-est OC. Allottee X v Karol Bagh Developers (DRERA 2023).
3. Conversion of common areas — common rooftops, parking and basements being sold separately as 'paid amenities'. Direct Section 14(2) violation.
4. DDA / L&DO sub-lease issues — for leasehold properties, promoter failing to obtain L&DO mutation post-construction is a Section 11(4)(g) violation.
5. CGHS allotment mismatches — original member's allottee rights being transferred unilaterally.

Documents required (identical to other state RERAs):

• Builder-Buyer Agreement / Allotment Letter from the CGHS / Conveyance Deed.
• Payment receipts and bank statements.
• Project DRERA registration certificate.
• OC and CC if offered (or proof of absence).
• Any L&DO / DDA mutation correspondence (Delhi-specific).
• Identity proof + cancelled cheque for refund.
• Authorization letter if filing through advocate.

Fee: ₹1,000 per complaint under Rule 32 of the Delhi Rules 2016, paid online via SBI ePay on the portal.

File size limits: 4 MB per PDF on the DRERA portal — strictly enforced.

1. Open rera.delhi.gov.in → Complaint Registration → New Complaint.
2. Create complainant account (Aadhaar-based eKYC OTP).
3. Select complaint type: Allottee vs Promoter — Section 31 OR Section 12 (misleading advertisement) OR Section 14 (deviation).
4. Project lookup by name or DRERA registration number — promoter and project details auto-populate.
5. Particulars: date of allotment, date of agreement, promised possession date (with BBA clause number), total consideration, amount paid till date, relief claimed.
6. Prayer (write verbatim): 'Direct the Respondent to refund ₹________ paid by the Complainant towards Flat No. in Project _______ with interest @ SBI MCLR + 1% per annum on each instalment from respective dates of payment till realisation, and litigation costs of ₹________.'
7. Upload documents.
8. Pay ₹1,000 → DRERA/COMPL/2026/XXXX number generated.
9. Within 14 days, scrutiny note issued by Registrar. Cure deficiencies within 30 days else complaint is filed as 'defective'.

DRERA sits at Vikas Bhavan-II, IP Estate, New Delhi (4th floor). The Authority is a three-member bench (Chairperson + 2 Members) sitting Monday-Thursday. Friday is reserved for orders.

Typical hearing flow:

• Date 1 (45-60 days from filing): notice acknowledgement, promoter takes time to file reply.
• Date 2 (4 weeks later): reply on record; rejoinder filed.
• Date 3: arguments + reservation for orders.
• Date 4: orders pronounced — written copy on portal in 4-6 weeks.

DRERA has been notably faster than HRERA — average disposal in 2025-26 is 8-12 months.

Interest rate: Rule 16 of Delhi Rules 2016 prescribes SBI MCLR + 1%. As of May 2026, this works out to approximately 10.10%. Applied per-instalment from each date of payment.

Recovery: Like other states, Section 40 read with Rule 23 — if the promoter fails to pay within 90 days, the Authority issues a Recovery Certificate to the Deputy Commissioner of the relevant district for recovery as arrears of land revenue. In Delhi this typically goes to DC (South) / DC (East) based on the project's location.

Appeals from DRERA orders lie to the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal, Delhi at the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) building, FC-23, Institutional Area, Karkardooma, Delhi-110092.

Period of limitation: 60 days from the order (Section 44 read with Delhi Rule 25). Tribunal can condone delay for sufficient cause but practice is conservative.

Pre-deposit for promoter appeals: Section 43(5) — 30% of penalty OR full amount awarded to allottees in refund/compensation cases. Newtech Promoters (2021) and NBCC v Gail (2024) apply.

REAT Delhi disposal is currently 9-13 months. From REAT, appeal lies to Delhi High Court on a substantial question of law under Section 58, within 60 days.