RERA Compliance for Builders & Developers: What to Track, Report & Submit in 2026
The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 — commonly known as RERA — changed the landscape for Indian builders and developers permanently. Since its rollout across states, RERA has shifted the balance of power significantly toward homebuyers, with builders facing penalties, project registration requirements, and ongoing reporting obligations.
Many builders and developers still manage RERA compliance reactively — scrambling to compile data before quarterly deadlines, relying on memory and scattered records. This approach is expensive and risky. This guide explains what RERA actually requires you to track, and how maintaining organised project records through construction management software makes compliance a natural byproduct of running your projects properly.
What RERA Requires Builders to Do
1. Project Registration
Any real estate project with more than 8 units or a plot area exceeding 500 sq metres must be registered with the state RERA authority before advertising, marketing, or selling. Registration requires providing detailed project information including sanctioned plans, approvals, estimated project cost, expected completion date, and contractor details.
2. Escrow Account Maintenance
RERA requires builders to deposit 70% of funds collected from buyers into a dedicated escrow account. These funds can only be used for land and construction costs related to that specific project. Withdrawal requires a certificate from an engineer, architect, and chartered accountant confirming the amount corresponds to completed work.
This is where accurate project cost tracking becomes directly tied to compliance: you need to document construction expenses to withdraw from the escrow account legally.
3. Quarterly Progress Updates
Registered projects must file quarterly updates on the RERA portal covering:
- Current status of project approvals
- Number of bookings and cancellations
- Construction progress update with photos
- Funds utilised and balance in escrow account
- Any changes to project specifications or timeline
Failure to file quarterly updates can result in penalties of up to ₹10,000 per day of default. Generating accurate quarterly updates requires maintaining organised project records throughout the quarter — not trying to reconstruct them at deadline time.
4. Completion Certificate and Occupancy Certificate
Upon completion, the builder must obtain a completion certificate from the relevant authority and hand over units to buyers. Any defect in structure, workmanship, or services discovered within five years of possession must be rectified by the builder free of charge.
What Records You Must Maintain for RERA
| Record Type | Frequency | Why It Matters for RERA |
|---|---|---|
| Construction progress photos | Weekly | Required for quarterly filings and escrow withdrawal |
| Approved plan vs actual construction | Ongoing | Deviations must be disclosed and approved |
| Project expenditure records | Monthly | Needed for escrow withdrawal certification |
| Contractor bills and payments | Per transaction | Supports construction cost documentation |
| Material purchase records | Per purchase | Supports cost verification |
| Project milestone completion dates | Per milestone | Supports quarterly progress filings |
| Sanction and approval documents | As received | Must be on file for registration and updates |
| Labour employment records | Monthly | Labour law compliance alongside RERA |
How Poor Record-Keeping Creates RERA Risk
Most RERA compliance failures in India are not about deliberate violations. They happen because builders cannot quickly produce the documentation required. Common scenarios:
- Quarterly filing is due and construction cost records for the last 3 months are scattered across multiple bills, WhatsApp messages, and paper registers
- An escrow withdrawal is needed but the cost documentation required by the CA is incomplete
- A buyer complains to the RERA authority and the builder cannot provide a clear record of what was completed and when
- Project completion is delayed and the builder cannot produce the documentation required to apply for a time extension
How Construction Management Software Supports RERA Compliance
Site Setu is not a RERA compliance tool in isolation — it is a project management platform. But when you manage your project in Site Setu, RERA compliance becomes significantly easier because the data is already organised:
Progress Tracking with Photo Documentation
Site Setu's photo documentation feature lets supervisors attach dated site photos to tasks and daily reports. These photos — timestamped and linked to specific project activities — are exactly what RERA quarterly updates and escrow withdrawal certificates require.
Budget and Cost Records
Every material purchase, labour wage, and contractor payment recorded in Site Setu builds a complete, date-stamped expenditure record. At quarter-end, this data is readily available for your CA to certify the construction cost claimed for escrow withdrawal.
Milestone Tracking
Project milestones set in Site Setu — foundation complete, ground floor slab, first floor slab, terrace, finishing — provide the construction progress data needed for quarterly RERA filings. When a milestone is marked complete in the system, you have a date-stamped record.
Daily Site Reports
Automatically generated daily site reports in Site Setu create a continuous record of site activity. This serves as supporting documentation for any progress claim or dispute resolution under RERA.
State-Wise RERA Portal Quick Reference
- Maharashtra: MahaRERA — maharera.mahaonline.gov.in
- Rajasthan: RERA Rajasthan — rera.rajasthan.gov.in
- Uttar Pradesh: UP RERA — up-rera.in
- Karnataka: K-RERA — rera.karnataka.gov.in
- Gujarat: Gujarat RERA — gujrera.gujarat.gov.in
- Delhi: Delhi RERA — rera.delhi.gov.in
- Tamil Nadu: TNRERA — tnrera.in
- Telangana: TS RERA — rera.telangana.gov.in
Keep Your Project Records RERA-Ready
Site Setu tracks costs, progress, photos, and contractor payments — so your RERA quarterly filings are ready when you need them. Book a free demo to see how.
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