Real Estate Faq's

According to the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), carpet area is defined as ‘the net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by the external walls, areas under services shafts, exclusive balcony or verandah area and exclusive open terrace area, but includes the area covered by the internal partition walls of the apartment’.

Super Built-up Area is the built up area plus proportionate area of common areas such as the lobby, lifts shaft, stairs, etc.

Built up Area is the actual used area of an apartment, it comprises of carpet area plus the thickness of outer walls and the balcony.

Agreement for sale contains the terms and conditions of sale of a property agreed upon by the parties, and bind them. An agreement to sell is the document basis which a conveyance deed is drafted.

Total Consideration means the amount amongst others payable for the said unit and the properties appurtenant thereto but does not include other amounts, charges, security deposits, stamp duty, registration fees, municipality tax and any other charges/tax/cess/levies etc levied by any authority that may be payable by purchasers.

Facility Management Company means the person(s)/agency/body/ appointed by the Developer or the Association as the case may be, who shall carry out the maintenance and upkeep of the said Building and who shall be responsible for providing the maintenance services within the said building or buildings forming part of the project.

A certain percentage of total Consideration amount as mentioned in the sale agreement shall be treated by the seller as Earnest Money, which shall be liable to be forfeited by the seller in the event of breach of any of the terms and conditions herein contained by the Purchasers.

Common parts and portion shall mean such area, parts and portions and facilities of the building available for use and enjoyment of all the Flat Owners and/or occupiers.

Force Majeure means any event or combination of events or circumstances beyond the control of the Developer which cannot (a) by the exercise of reasonable diligence, or (b) despite the adoption of reasonable precaution and/or alternative measures, be prevented or cause to be prevented and which adversely affects the Developer’s ability to perform obligations.

It is clarified that the Completion Date as specified in the Agreement is the maximum time which may be taken, subject to prevention on account of Force Majeure Events, for the completion of construction and the issuance of Offer of Possession Letter to the Purchasers.

A completion certification (CC) is document that a builder obtains from the municipal authorities after the completion of a building. The CC attests to the fact that the new building is constructed and completed in accordance with all the safety norms and regulations.

The maintenance period will start from the date the builder offers possession to the customer.

The possession letter is issued by the developer in favour of the buyer stating the date of possession of the property.

In the event that the Purchasers fails to take over possession of the Unit by making requi1payments as stipulated in the Offer of Possession Letter within a period, the Developer shall be entitled to levy upon the Purchasers, holding charges as defined in the sale agreement.

The norms, rules and regulations which has to be adhered by the all the buyers for maintenance of the Common areas including the club, if any in the Project

The Rules and regulations which shall state the manner in which the interior work or the fit-out work in various units is to be conducted.

Deed of conveyance is a document that a seller issues to the buyer, thereby transferring the ownership of the property. The execution of the document takes places after construction is complete, completion certificate is received and all the different terms and conditions present in the sale agreements are fulfilled.

Registration will be done only on completion of each phase and on payment of the entire sale consideration including the deposits. Registration will be facilitated by us through a legal consultant appointed by the developer.

Market value means the fair price declared by government at which a property could be bought in the open market on the date of execution of such instrument. The Stamp Duty is payable on the agreement value of the property or the market value whichever is higher.

For any delays beyond the grace period notified for the project for completion, the rate of interest payable by us would be the same as the rate of interest charged to buyers towards delay penalties subjected to force majeure clause.

Charges and expenses incurred towards procuring transformer, sub-station, electricity connection HT/LT and laying of cables for the building complex.

Legal / Documentation and professional charge incurred for preparation of Agreement for sale and the Deed of conveyance and/or transfer deed in respect of the said Flat/Unit including all other deeds, documents and instruments as may be necessary and/or required.

This is a refundable deposit obtained from the buyers to ensure mutations of flats are caused by buyers. In the event the mutation is caused by the buyer, the entire deposit is refunded to the buyer. In the event the mutation is not done then municipal taxes accrued in respect of the flat is paid out of the deposit money.

Sinking Fund is a fund created for upgradation of services from time to time and in connection therewith various costs which are to be incurred including capital costs which may have to be incurred for the purpose of repairs and/or replacement of the various equipments and/or installations.

Generator connection charge is taken to provide power backup in the individual units

Maintenance charge shall include the proportionate share of charges/expenses in maintaining all the facilities and amenities comprising the general common elements irrespective of use/availability.

Deposit provided by the buyers for maintenance and upkeep of the Club, if any in the Project.

Costs and charges for formation of association.

Nomination / Transfer charge means the charge that is levied on any transfer /assignment /nomination by the Purchasers of the said unit before the Deed of Conveyance is executed by the Developer.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an indirect tax which was introduced in India on 1 July 2017 and is applicable throughout India which replaced multiple cascading taxes levied by the central and state governments earlier. Under GST, goods and services are taxed at the following rates, 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. The effective GST rate on under- construction real estate projects will be 12% after one third abatement for land cost on 18%. However, GST would not be applicable on the units sold after availing completion certificate.

GST would be payable additionally at the applicable rate on the total unit consideration as notified from time to time by the government. Input credit has already been applied for all buyers in the base price. The variable charges would attract GST at the notified rates which is 18% at present and is subject to change as per government directives.

The Finance Bill 2013 has proposed that purchaser of an immovable property (other than rural agricultural land) worth ₹ 50 lakh or more is required to pay withholding tax at the rate of 1% from the consideration payable to a resident transferor

Buyer or Purchaser of the property is not required to procure Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN). The Buyer is required to quote his or her PAN and sellers PAN.

According to rules in respect of tax deducted at source, buyer of the property would have to deduct the TDS and deposit the same in Government treasury.

As per the CBDT notification no. 30/2016 dated April 29, 2016, the due date of payment of TDS on transfer of immovable property has been extended to thirty days (from existing seven days) from the end of the month in which the deduction is made.

PAN of the seller is mandatory. The same may be acquired from the Seller before effecting the transaction.

The online form available on the TIN website for furnishing information regarding TDS on property is termed as Form 26QB

Form 16B is the TDS certificate to be issued by the deductor (Buyer of property) to the deductee (Seller of property) in respect of the taxes deducted and deposited into the Government Account.

Property is considered a capital asset and Capital Gains Tax is levied on the gains arising from the sale of property. Such gains are calculated after adjusting the inflation rate, transfer and renovation charges.

I have filled Form 26QB and made the payment online, but I forgot to save the Acknowledgment Number generated at TIN website. From where can I get the Acknowledgment Number?

If the house is held for less than three years prior to its sale, it is termed as a short-term capital asset and any gain arising from the sale is treated as a short-term Capital Gain. There are no tax exemptions for short-term Capital Gains and one needs to pay it according to the applicable tax slab. However, if the property is sold after holding it for more than three years, it is treated as a long-term capital asset and the gain arising from it is called the long-term Capital Gain. Such gains attract a flat exemption rate of 20%.

There are a few exemptions available for long term Capital Gains, if you: Buy or construct a new house: If you build a new house or buy one from the money you receive from selling a property, you are exempted from paying the tax on Capital Gains. However, the new purchase should be done either one year before or within two years of sale and the construction should be completed within three years from the date of transfer. The new property bought or constructed should not be sold within three years from the date of its purchase or date of completion of construction. Capital Gain Account Scheme: Through the Capital Gain Account Scheme (CGAS), you can save the received money in designated banks. CGAS helps you in buying time to look for suitable investments as it serves to inform the Income Tax department that you plan to invest the money received; but at a later date.

There is a restriction on the remittance of proceeds beyond the principal amount of investment. However, the profits and/or gains can be deposited in the NRO account of the remitter and, consequently, the same can be remitted outside India, provided it does not exceed the threshold of $1 million per financial year.

Rental income can be repatriated freely from India without taking any specific permission.

There is no restriction on the number of properties that a person can buy or sell. However, there is a restriction on the number of residential properties whose sales proceeds can be freely repatriated. While the proceeds of two residential properties can be freely repatriated, the proceeds from third property and thereafter can be deposited in an NRO account out of which a total of $1 million per financial year can be freely remitted.

Any gains or losses on transfer of funds would be borne by customers. We will only credit the value that is actually received. Any variation will be carried over onto the next installment due

Reserve Bank has granted general permission to certain financial institutions and authorized dealers approved by the National Housing Bank to grant housing loans to non-resident Indian nationals for acquisition of a house/flat for self-occupation subject to certain conditions. The purpose of the loan, margin money and the quantum of loan will be at par with those applicable to housing loans to residents. Repayment of loan should be made within a period not exceeding 15 years out of inward remittances or out of funds held in the investors’ NRE/FCNR/NRO accounts.

Under the general permission, an NRI/PIO may purchase a residential property in India by funds remitted to India through normal banking channel or funds held in his NRE/FCNR (B)NRO account. No consideration shall be paid outside India or from domestic resident accounts if held by such NRIs.

PAN card OCI/PIO card (In case of OCI/PIO) Passport (In case of NRI) Passport size photographs Address proof

The general permission for NRI’s holding foreign passport is that the RBI has allowed them to acquire, hold, transfer or dispose off by way of sale or inheritance, immovable properties situated in India. This has been granted, provided the property is for the purchaser’s bonafide residential use. However, NRIs cannot purchase any agricultural land or plantation property. The purchase consideration is met either by remittance from funds abroad through normal banking channels or out of NRE / FCNR. Income accruing by way of rent from the properties purchased or acquired by inheritance will not be allowed to be repatriated abroad even if the purchase consideration was met out of NRE / FCNR account. It is however, necessary for foreign citizens of Indian origin to declare such property to RBI within a period of 90 days from the date of purchase in the prescribed IPI 7 to the Chief General Manager, Exchange Control Department, Foreign Investment Division, Central Office Department, Foreign Investment Division, Central Office, RBI Mumbai. A foreign national of non-Indian origin, resident outside India cannot purchase any immovable property in India unless such property is acquired by way of inheritance from a person who was resident in India. However, he/she can acquire or transfer immovable property in India, on lease, not exceeding five years. In such cases, there is no requirement of taking any permission of/ or reporting to the Reserve Bank of India.

WA Person of Indian Origin (PIO) is a person of Indian origin or ancestry who is not a citizen of India, but is a citizen of another country. A PIO might have been a citizen of India and subsequently taken the citizenship of another country, or have ancestors born in India or other states.

A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) is a citizen of India who holds an Indian passport and has temporarily immigrated to another country for six months or more for employment, residence, education or any other purpose.