Updated 30 October 2026. Diwali is on 8 November and Dhanteras on 6 November. We count an offer only with a dated 2026 source, and we found none for Chennai. That does not prove none exists. It means you should ask for any scheme in writing and judge it on the total cost. For Bangalore, where offers were confirmed, see Diwali 2026 Property Offers in Bangalore: Confirmed List
What is the stamp duty on a new flat in Chennai?
Since 1 December 2023, a first sale from a builder uses one sale deed on a composite value. That value combines the land share and the building, and the government fixes it, so buyers cannot set the built-up cost themselves (DT Next, 24 November 2023). The stamp duty slabs are:
- Up to ₹50 lakh: 4% stamp duty.
- ₹50 lakh to ₹3 crore: 5% stamp duty.
- Above ₹3 crore: 7%, per the Verified Real Estate calculator. DT Next did not state this slab.
What is the registration fee on a new flat in Chennai?
The Verified Real Estate calculator gives 2% for first-sale flats, citing G.O.(Ms) No.131 of 1 December 2023. We could not open the government order itself, and older articles quote other figures, so treat 2% as unconfirmed by a primary source. Ask your lawyer or the sub-registrar office for the current rate.
What does a resale flat cost in stamp duty and registration?
A resale pays 7% stamp duty plus 4% registration, on the higher of the sale price or the guideline value (KS&K, 14 April 2026). The first-sale concession does not apply to resales (DT Next). Check the guideline value first, using Guideline Value Chennai 2026: Check Your Plot's Value Online
How much will you actually pay on an ₹80 lakh flat?
This is our own arithmetic, and it assumes the composite value or guideline value equals ₹80 lakh. Your actual figure depends on the value used.
- New flat from a builder: stamp duty of ₹4 lakh at 5%, plus ₹1.6 lakh registration if the 2% rate applies. Total ₹5.6 lakh.
- Resale flat: stamp duty of ₹5.6 lakh at 7%, plus ₹3.2 lakh registration at 4%. Total ₹8.8 lakh.
- GST on an under-construction flat: about ₹4 lakh if 5% is charged on the full ₹80 lakh. Ask how your builder calculates it.
Is there GST on a flat in Chennai?
Under-construction flats generally carry 5% GST, or 1% for affordable homes, without input tax credit (Kotak Mahindra Bank guide). Lodha's guide puts the affordable limit at ₹45 lakh and up to 90 sq m carpet area in metro cities. Flats sold with an occupancy certificate generally carry no GST (Busy GST guide). Godrej Azure in Padur, for example, shows its prices before 5% GST and 7% stamp and registration on its payment plan page.
What should you check before paying a booking amount?
- Search the project on rera.tn.gov.in and match the number, the promoter and the completion date.
- For an under-construction flat, read the latest progress update on TNRERA, if one is posted.
- Ask how much undivided share of land (UDS) you are getting. See Patta for Flats in Chennai and UDS Explained (2026): Joint Patta, Undivided Share, Registration
- For a ready flat, ask for the completion certificate.
- Get a cost sheet with base price, GST, stamp duty, registration, parking, club and maintenance fees.
- Ask whether any stamp duty paid on an earlier agreement can be set off at the sale deed. KS&K reported this 2026 change without naming the order, so confirm it with your lawyer.
How do you judge a festive offer if you are given one?
Compare the total cost, not the headline. Ask for the same flat's price with and without the scheme, get the closing date in writing, and check that the offer appears in your agreement. If the offer is a payment plan, ask who pays the interest and from which date.
Is Diwali a good time to buy a home in Chennai?
We do not forecast prices. JLL reported Chennai sales up 27% to 8,587 homes, prices up 13% and launches down 14% in H1 2026. The RBI repo rate is 5.50% since 7 October 2026, so ask your bank for its current home loan quote. The right time depends on your budget, your loan approval and the project's paperwork, not on the date.
