Chennai Property Document Checklist: What to Verify Before Booking
A buyer-friendly checklist covering RERA, title documents, planning approvals, encumbrance records, and the builder agreement.
A beautiful model apartment should never distract from the paperwork behind the project. Before paying a booking amount, ask for the project registration details, land title records, planning permission, and the approved building plan.
For projects covered by Tamil Nadu RERA, compare the builder's claims with the information shown on the official registration record. Check the registered completion timeline, approved phases, promoter details, and any declared litigation.
Review the parent documents and encumbrance certificate with a qualified property lawyer. The ownership trail, mortgages, access rights, and joint-development arrangements should be clear before you make a financial commitment.
Confirm whether the approval comes from CMDA, DTCP, or the relevant local authority. The unit you are buying, its floor, parking allocation, and promised amenities should align with the sanctioned plan.
Read the agreement for sale carefully. Pay attention to the carpet area, payment milestones, delay clauses, cancellation terms, maintenance deposits, taxes, and the process for handling specification changes.
Keep every promise in writing. Brochures and verbal assurances are useful for understanding the offer, but the signed agreement and approved documents are what protect your purchase.