That declaration is a ready-made handover checklist. This guide walks through it item by item so you know what to inspect and what to ask for before you sign a possession letter.

What did TNRERA change in 2026?

TNRERA first set out completion-intimation procedures on 16 June 2026 (Proc. No. TNRERA/A3/1840/2026-2). On 4 August 2026 it issued revised directions (Proc. No. TNRERA/A3/1840/2026-4) that supersede the earlier ones and took effect immediately.

The revised directions link completion to money. Under Section 4(2)(l)(D) of the RERA Act, 70% of what buyers pay must go to a separate bank account. Under Rule 5 of the Tamil Nadu Rules, the builder may withdraw the balance in that account after the project is completed. So the completion intimation is also the point at which the builder can draw down what is left in the 70% account. That is a reason to raise your snag list before, not after.

The completion certificate (CC) is issued by the planning authority, such as CMDA, DTCP or the local body, and confirms the building matches the approved plan. TNRERA's completion intimation is the builder's declaration to the regulator, built on that CC plus utilities, amenities and accounts. You need both. For the CC and occupancy question in detail, read Completion Certificate Chennai: Is It Safe to Buy Without OC/CC?.

What must a builder declare to TNRERA on completion?

  • That it has obtained the completion certificate from the competent authority, with its number and date.
  • That the project is complete in all respects as per the planning approval and the conditions of each NOC agency.
  • The three RERA-designated bank accounts, set up under TNRERA's directions of 12 December 2025: a collection account (100%), a separate account (70%) and a transaction account (30%).
  • That 70% of buyers' money went into the separate account and was used for the project, with a chartered accountant's audited certificate of funds collected, spent and the balance.
  • Pending complaints before TNRERA or courts about the project.

What documents and photos are attached?

  • Form-4: the architect's certificate of completion, including the structural engineer's certification of the building's soundness.
  • A copy of the completion certificate (or an architect's or engineer's completion certificate where a planning-authority certificate is not mandatory).
  • The promoter's declaration on water supply, sewage and power.
  • One year of bank statements for all three accounts.
  • Photos: four of each block or tower covering exterior and interior; two of each common amenity such as roads, storm-water drains, STP, water facilities, clubhouse, pool, auditorium, lifts, halls and park; four aerial photos of the whole project. All geo-tagged and high resolution.

When must the builder file, and what should I ask?

The deadline runs from the completion date shown on Form-C, or Form-F if the project was extended. Example: a Form-C completion date of 30 November 2026 means the intimation is due by 28 February 2027. If the project also got TNRERA's four-month West Asia extension, the completion date itself moves first.

Ask the builder in writing whether the intimation has been filed, on what date, and whether TNRERA has taken it on record. Keep the reply. If the builder says the project is complete but has not filed, that is worth a follow-up question before you take possession.

  • Has the TNRERA completion intimation been filed, and on what date?
  • What is the completion certificate number and date, and which authority issued it?
  • Which water source and sewage option did you declare to TNRERA?
  • Is the STP running, and who operates it after handover?
  • Are all lifts certified by the lift inspector?
  • Which brochure amenities are not yet working, and by when will they be?
  • Who handles defects, and for how long?

Buying a plot? Form II is different

For layouts, Form II asks the developer to list the infrastructure works that were pending when the project was registered, the conditions each NOC agency imposed, and any security deposit paid. It must attach Form-5, an architect's or licensed surveyor's certificate that the roads match the approved layout and each approved work is complied with, plus four aerial drone photos and two photos of each road, bridge, culvert, park or storm-water drain, all geo-tagged. For the plot buyer's version of this checklist, see TNRERA Layout Rules 2026: 7 Checks for Chennai Plot Buyers.

The handover checklist, item by item

The builder's declaration on its letterhead lists specific options. Ask which one applies to your project, and check it on site.

  • Water: is supply from a CMWSSB or local-body connection, from a borewell or open well, or from 'mobile water supply'? Mobile supply means tankers. Ask for proof of connection.
  • Sewage: is the building connected to the CMWSSB or local-body sewer, or treated in an on-site STP? If STP, ask for its capacity and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board consent to operate. A third option is a septic tank emptied by lorry; know which you are buying.
  • Electricity: transformer and ring main unit capacity, and whether your flat's three-phase meter is installed and live. Ask for the sanction order and EB card.
  • Lifts: number and capacity, and the lift inspector's certificate. Ride every lift.
  • Amenities: compare the clubhouse, pool, gym, park and every other item against the brochure and your agreement. The declaration says all are provided and functional, so a locked or unfinished clubhouse contradicts it.
  • Inside your flat: doors, windows, plumbing leaks, electrical points, tiling and waterproofing. Note defects in writing with photos.

Worked example: where your money should be

Say you have paid ₹80 lakh for a flat. The rule is that 70% of collections go to the separate account. So at least ₹80,00,000 × 70% = ₹56,00,000 of your money should have gone into that account and been spent on the project, as the CA certificate must show. The remaining ₹24,00,000 can sit in the transaction account.

You cannot audit the builder yourself, but you can ask whether the completion intimation has been filed and whether the CA certificate was attached. A builder who has filed everything has little reason to refuse.

What if amenities are missing at handover?

  • Write to the builder listing each missing or non-working item, with photos and dates.
  • Do not sign a possession letter that says everything is complete if it is not. Add a written note of pending items.
  • Remember the builder's declaration is made under the RERA Act; the form states that false information exposes the builder to action under the Act.
  • If items stay undone, file a complaint with TNRERA, RERA Tower, No. 133, G-Block, 1st Avenue, Anna Nagar (East), Chennai 600102.
  • If possession itself is late, see TNRERA 4-Month Extension 2026: What Chennai Buyers Lose for delay interest.

After handover: the paperwork to collect