Abadi Deh
Land Records
The inhabited residential area of a village as recorded in revenue records, as distinct from farmland.
Example & agent tip
Example: A house inside the abadi deh is recorded differently from farmland on its outskirts.
Agent tip: Check the legal status of abadi plots. Some have no formal title documents.
Related:
Lal Dora
SVAMITVA
Absorption Rate
Investment & Valuation
The pace at which new homes or space in a market are sold or leased, usually per month or quarter.
Example & agent tip
Example: A micro-market sells 300 units a month while 3,600 are unsold. At that rate the stock lasts a year.
Agent tip: A slow absorption rate warns of price pressure.
Related:
Unsold Inventory
Inventory
Acre
Measurement
A land measurement equal to 43,560 sq ft or about 4,047 sq metres. It is the standard unit for large land parcels and township projects.
Example & agent tip
Example: A 10 acre township contains 435,600 sq ft of land before roads and common areas are deducted.
Agent tip: Convert regional units such as bigha, kanal or guntha into acres when you compare projects across states.
Related:
Hectare
Kanal
Guntha
Adangal
Land Records
Also called: Adangal Register, Village Account No. 2
A village-level register in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh recording who cultivates each survey number, the crop grown and the type of land. It is kept by the village revenue staff and is updated every year or season.
Example & agent tip
Example: The adangal for a field near Thanjavur shows a tenant farmer growing paddy, which tells the buyer that the owner is not in possession.
Agent tip: Compare the adangal with the patta. If the person in cultivation is not the seller, ask why before buying.
Related:
Chitta
Patta
Revenue Record
Girdawari
Adjudicating Officer
RERA
An officer appointed under RERA, of the rank of a district judge, who decides the amount of compensation under Sections 12, 14, 18 and 19.
Legal basis: Section 71 of the RERA Act, 2016. The Supreme Court in Newtech Promoters (2021) held that refund and interest are decided by the Authority, while compensation is for the adjudicating officer.
Example & agent tip
Example: A buyer gets a refund order from the Authority and separately claims compensation before the adjudicating officer.
Agent tip: Use the right forum. Refund and interest go to the Authority; compensation goes to the adjudicating officer.
Related:
RERA Authority
Delay Interest
Adjudication of Compensation (Section 71)
RERA
The route for claiming compensation for matters such as false information, plan changes, structural defects and delay. The adjudicating officer hears the claim and may decide it within about 60 days.
Legal basis: Section 71 of the RERA Act, 2016.
Example & agent tip
Example: A buyer who suffered a loss from a defect files a claim before the adjudicating officer.
Agent tip: Compensation and refund are separate remedies, with different forums.
Related:
Adjudicating Officer
Section 14 (RERA)
Adverse Possession
Legal
A doctrine under which a person who occupies land openly, continuously and against the true owner's rights for the period set by the law, usually 12 years for private land and 30 years for government land, can claim ownership.
Legal basis: Limitation Act, 1963 (Articles 65 and 112).
Example & agent tip
Example: A squatter lives on an unattended plot for more than 12 years and claims title. A court asks if the possession was hostile and uninterrupted.
Agent tip: Visit vacant plots and look for encroachment. An old unattended plot is a warning sign.
Related:
Limitation Period
Title
Advertisement Compliance
RERA
Ads for registered projects must be truthful and match the registration, and state rules usually require the RERA registration number to be shown. Misleading ads can lead to penalties and refund claims, and agents are responsible for what they publish too.
Legal basis: Section 12 of the RERA Act, 2016; Section 2(b) defines an advertisement.
Example & agent tip
Example: An agent in Zirakpur posts a flat as "RERA approved" without the number. The Authority notices and issues a notice.
Agent tip: Put the registration number on each ad and keep a copy of the claims you made. Check your state's current advertising rules.
Related:
Section 12 (RERA)
RERA Registration Number
Mis-selling
Advertising Compliance
Agent Practice
Following the rules on property advertising: showing the RERA registration number, using only approved plan details, avoiding exaggerated or false claims and not advertising before registration. State rules may add requirements for display of numbers and QR codes.
Legal basis: Section 12 of the RERA Act, 2016 deals with false or misleading advertisements by promoters.
Example & agent tip
Example: An agent removes a social media post that said "RERA approved" because the project had not yet been registered.
Agent tip: Add the RERA number to each ad and match every claim to registered documents.
Related:
Section 12 (RERA)
RERA Registration Number
Mis-selling
Lead Generation
Aerocity (Mohali)
General & Places
Also called: Aerocity Mohali
A residential and commercial area near Chandigarh International Airport in Mohali, popular with buyers wanting airport access. Prices vary by sector, and approvals differ by project.
Example & agent tip
Example: An NRI buyer prefers a flat in Aerocity Mohali for easy airport access.
Agent tip: Check approved status, airport height limits and noise levels. Visit at different times of day.
Related:
Mohali (SAS Nagar)
Height Clearance (AAI NOC)
Tricity
Affidavit
Documents
A written statement confirmed on oath before a notary or magistrate. It is often used for name change, lost documents and declarations.
Example & agent tip
Example: A seller submits an affidavit that a lost original sale deed has not been mortgaged.
Agent tip: An affidavit is not a title document. Use it only to support other proofs.
Related:
Indemnity Bond
Notary
Affordable Housing
Property Types
Housing aimed at lower and middle income buyers. Governments define it by size and price limits for subsidies and tax concessions, and state policies add rules for plots and flats.
Legal basis: For the 1% GST rate, the carpet area must be up to 60 sq m in metropolitan cities or up to 90 sq m elsewhere, and the value must be up to ₹45 lakh.
Example & agent tip
Example: A 700 sq ft (about 65 sq m) flat priced at ₹40 lakh in a non-metro city can qualify for the 1% GST rate. The same flat in a metro does not, because it is above 60 sq m.
Agent tip: Check both the area and the price limits, and which cities count as metropolitan, when a buyer relies on a tax or subsidy benefit.
Related:
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
GST on Real Estate
Carpet Area
Affordable Rental Housing Complex (ARHC)
Property Types
A government-backed scheme under which housing complexes are made available at affordable rent for urban migrants, workers and low-income households, often by converting vacant government-funded flats or building new ones with private partners.
Example & agent tip
Example: A factory worker near Ludhiana rents a small unit in an affordable rental complex at a fixed monthly rent.
Agent tip: Rules and eligibility come from the scheme's current guidelines and state notifications. Verify them before advising anyone.
Related:
Affordable Housing
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
Tenant
Affordable Residential Apartment (GST)
Tax & Duties
Also called: GST Affordable Housing
For GST, a residential apartment qualifies as affordable if its carpet area is up to 60 square metres in notified metropolitan cities, or 90 square metres elsewhere, and its value is up to ₹45 lakh. Such flats attract a lower effective GST rate.
Legal basis: GST rate notifications under the CGST Act, 2017; check the latest notification before quoting rates.
Example & agent tip
Example: A 2 BHK of 85 square metres carpet area priced at ₹44 lakh in a non-metro city meets the area and price limits, but one at ₹46 lakh does not.
Agent tip: Both limits must be met. A flat that is cheap but too large, or small but too costly, loses the lower rate.
Related:
GST on Real Estate
Affordable Housing
Carpet Area
After-Sales Service
Agent Practice
Help given to a buyer after the sale, such as tracking payments, possession, utility connections, registry, tenancy and resale. It builds goodwill that brings referrals. It does not extend to giving legal advice you are not qualified for.
Example & agent tip
Example: After a buyer gets possession, the agent helps him find a tenant and update electricity records.
Agent tip: Call clients at possession and at the one-year mark. Referrals usually come from them.
Related:
Referral Fee
Possession Letter
Closing the Deal
Agent Code of Conduct
Agent Practice
The standards an agent must follow, such as being registered, giving true information, not hiding facts, not inducing buyers wrongly and keeping the required documents. Under RERA, agents have duties towards both buyers and the authority.
Legal basis: Section 10 of the RERA Act, 2016 lists the functions and duties of real estate agents.
Example & agent tip
Example: An agent tells a buyer that a project is not yet registered and refuses to take a booking until it is.
Agent tip: Treat the RERA duties as your minimum standard. A clean record builds repeat business.
Related:
Section 10 (RERA)
Real Estate Agent
Mis-selling
Conflict of Interest
Agreement for Sale
Documents
Also called: BBA
The agreement between a promoter and an allottee in a RERA project that sets out price, payment plan, area, possession date, specifications and remedies. It is signed after booking and before the sale deed.
Legal basis: Section 13 of the RERA Act, 2016. The promoter must use the form prescribed in the state RERA rules.
Example & agent tip
Example: Mr. Verma signs a builder-buyer agreement for a 2 BHK after paying 10% of the price, as RERA permits.
Agent tip: Read the clauses on possession date, delay interest, cancellation and changes to the plan. Compare them with the state's model agreement.
Related:
Builder-Buyer Agreement
Possession Date
Delay Interest
Agreement to Lease
Documents
A document in which an owner and a tenant agree to sign a lease on stated terms in future. It fixes rent, term and deposit in advance, and in some cases, it also gives the tenant a period for fitting out before rent begins.
Example & agent tip
Example: A clinic owner in Chandigarh signs an agreement to lease a first-floor space and pays a deposit, with the lease to be registered once the fire clearance arrives.
Agent tip: State the date by which the lease has to be signed and what happens to the deposit if the owner or the tenant backs out.
Related:
Lease Deed
Letter of Intent (LoI)
Security Deposit
Lessor
Agreement to Sell (ATS)
Documents
Also called: Bainama, Sale Agreement, Agreement of Sale
A contract in which the seller agrees to sell and the buyer agrees to buy at an agreed price on fixed terms. It does not itself transfer ownership. That happens only at registration of the sale deed.
Legal basis: Transfer of Property Act, 1882. Section 53A can protect a buyer in possession only if the agreement itself is registered, because Section 17(1A) of the Registration Act, 1908 denies effect to an unregistered one.
Example & agent tip
Example: A seller signs an agreement to sell with a buyer and takes 20% of the price. The title stays with the seller until the sale deed is registered.
Agent tip: Make sure the ATS mentions the exact date for the sale deed and who bears the stamp duty.
Related:
Sale Deed
Earnest Money
Part Performance
Agricultural Land
Property Types
Land recorded for farming in the revenue records. It cannot be used for housing or commerce without a change of land use, and rules on who may buy it differ by state.
Example & agent tip
Example: A buyer cannot build a factory on a plot in the revenue record as agricultural without a CLU or NA order.
Agent tip: Always check the land use in the Jamabandi, Fard or 7/12 extract. Some states bar non-farmers from buying farmland.
Related:
Change of Land Use (CLU)
NA (Non-Agricultural) Order
Jamabandi
Agricultural Land Ceiling
Land Records
Also called: Land Ceiling Act, Surplus Land, Ceiling on Holdings
A state-law limit on how much agricultural land a person or family may hold. Land beyond the limit, called surplus land, can be taken by the state and given to landless people, with compensation as the law provides.
Example & agent tip
Example: A buyer in a state with a 20-acre ceiling finds that the seller already holds 18 acres, so buying 5 more would take the seller above the limit.
Agent tip: In states with ceiling laws, ask for a declaration of the seller's and the buyer's total holdings. Buying beyond the limit may be void.
Related:
Land Reforms
Urban Land Ceiling
Agricultural Land
Agricultural Tenancy
Agricultural Tenancy
Land Records
Also called: Kisan Tenancy, Batai, Crop-Share Tenancy
An arrangement where a person cultivates another's farmland for rent or a crop share. Many states give protected tenants security, and some have given tenants ownership rights, so a landlord's right to sell or evict can be limited.
Example & agent tip
Example: In Haryana, a farmer's family has cultivated a field for 40 years on lease. A buyer learns that the cultivator may claim tenancy rights under the state's tenancy law.
Agent tip: Check the girdawari to see who is in actual cultivation. A tenant listed there can block a clean sale.
Related:
Girdawari
Land Reforms
Tenant
Landlord
Airport-Led Development
General & Places
The growth of housing, offices, logistics and hotels around a new or expanded airport. Land near airports can also face height limits and noise zones, so benefits and restrictions both apply.
Example & agent tip
Example: A buyer near a new airport asks for the height clearance and for the master plan zone of the plot.
Agent tip: Check the height limits and flight-path rules with the airport and planning authority.
Related:
Height Clearance (AAI NOC)
Master Plan
Zoning (Land Use Zone)
Micro-market
Airports Authority of India (AAI)
Authorities
The national body that manages airports and air navigation. Near airports it controls the height of buildings through no-objection certificates, so projects in flight-path areas need its height clearance.
Example & agent tip
Example: A tower near Chandigarh airport cannot add floors beyond the height the AAI allows.
Agent tip: In an airport city, check whether a tower's planned height has an AAI clearance before booking a high floor.
Related:
Height Clearance (AAI NOC)
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
Sanctioned Plan
Allotment Letter
Documents
A letter from a developer confirming that a specific unit is allotted to a buyer after booking. It is usually the first formal document in the builder-buyer relationship.
Example & agent tip
Example: A buyer pays the booking amount and receives an allotment letter naming Tower B, flat 1204.
Agent tip: Keep it safe. In disputes it proves the unit, price and date of booking.
Related:
Booking Amount
Agreement for Sale
Application Form (Booking Form)
Allottee
RERA
A person to whom a plot, apartment or building has been allotted, sold or otherwise transferred by the promoter. It includes a later buyer, but not a tenant.
Legal basis: Defined in Section 2(d) of the RERA Act, 2016.
Example & agent tip
Example: A buyer who books a flat directly from the developer is an allottee. So is one who buys it from the first buyer.
Agent tip: Allottees have rights to information, refund, interest and timely possession.
Related:
Promoter
Buyer
Section 19 (RERA)
Alternative Investment Fund (AIF)
Investment & Valuation
Also called: AIF, Real Estate AIF, Category II AIF
A privately pooled fund registered with SEBI that invests in assets other than ordinary shares and bonds. Real estate AIFs fall under Category II. Investors must put in a large minimum amount, so they are aimed at wealthy investors.
Legal basis: SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012; the minimum investment per investor is ₹1 crore, subject to the regulations.
Example & agent tip
Example: A fund pools money from HNIs to lend to residential projects in the Delhi NCR, and each investor commits at least the regulatory minimum.
Agent tip: Do not sell AIFs casually. Check the fund's SEBI registration, track record and exit terms.
Related:
SEBI
REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust)
Collective Investment Scheme
Amaravati
General & Places
The planned capital city of Andhra Pradesh in Guntur-Krishna region, created through land pooling by farmers. Its progress has been shaped by changes in state policy, so a buyer or agent should check the current status of works and plot allotments.
Example & agent tip
Example: A farmer's heir receives a returnable plot under the pooling scheme, and asks a lawyer how to verify its record.
Agent tip: Do not rely on old news about Amaravati. Check current state notifications and the authority's records before buying anywhere near it.
Related:
Land Pooling
Master Plan
AP RERA
Greenfield Project
Amended Plan
Approvals
Also called: Revised Plan
A revised building plan submitted and approved when the owner or builder changes the design after the original sanction. It is needed for changes in area, floors, layout or use, and keeps the building legally consistent.
Example & agent tip
Example: A developer in Mohali added a clubhouse after sanction and applied for an amended plan before building it.
Agent tip: Under RERA, major changes to sanctioned plans need allottees' consent. Ask whether the plan you saw was later changed.
Related:
Sanctioned Plan
Building Plan Approval
Section 14 (RERA)
Amenities
General & Places
The facilities in a project beyond the unit itself, such as a club house, pool, gym, garden, security and parking. Under RERA, amenities promised in the registered project must be provided.
Legal basis: Promised amenities are part of the representations covered by Section 12 of the RERA Act, 2016.
Example & agent tip
Example: A brochure shows a clubhouse and a podium garden. The registered plan and the agreement should list both.
Agent tip: Compare brochure promises with the registered plan and the agreement.
Related:
Common Area
Section 12 (RERA)
Specifications
Amortisation
Finance
The gradual repayment of a loan through scheduled instalments, in which interest is paid first and more principal is repaid later.
Example & agent tip
Example: In the first year of a 20-year loan, most of the EMI is interest.
Agent tip: Show clients an amortisation schedule to explain why prepayment early in the loan saves more.
Related:
EMI (Equated Monthly Instalment)
Prepayment
Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC)
General & Places
Also called: AKIC
A planned industrial corridor along the eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor linking Punjab and West Bengal through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, with influence areas that also take in Uttarakhand and the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh belt in Himachal Pradesh. Nodes proposed in various states aim at manufacturing and logistics, with progress differing by location.
Example & agent tip
Example: A Patiala-based trader hears of an AKIC node in the area and asks the state industries department what is actually notified.
Agent tip: Corridor announcements often come before land acquisition. Check official notifications before acting on a rumour.
Related:
Industrial Corridor
Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC)
Industrial Plot
Land Acquisition (RFCTLARR Act, 2013)
Ancestral Property
Legal
Also called: Pushtaini Jaidad, Paitrik Sampatti
Property inherited from a father, grandfather or great-grandfather in the male line, which has been passed down without division. A child gains a right to it by birth, unlike self-acquired property, which the owner can handle freely.
Example & agent tip
Example: A 5-acre family farm near Karnal has passed from great-grandfather to father unpartitioned. The son's children have a claim along with him.
Agent tip: When a seller offers family land, ask how he obtained it. If it is ancestral, other family members may have a claim.
Related:
Coparcenary
Self-Acquired Property
Hindu Succession Act, 1956
Partition Deed
Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA)
Authorities
The authority planning the Amaravati capital region in Andhra Pradesh. Much of the capital land was gathered through a land pooling scheme where farmers gave land in return for developed plots.
Example & agent tip
Example: A farmer who pooled land gets a developed plot back, and an investor checks the plot's pooling documents.
Agent tip: For land pooling plots, check the pooling papers and the authority's records before buying.
Related:
Land Pooling
Development Authority
AP RERA
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Finance
Also called: APR, Effective Cost of Loan
The yearly cost of a loan expressed as a percentage, including the interest rate and certain fees and charges. It shows the true cost better than the interest rate alone, which leaves out items like processing fees.
Example & agent tip
Example: A loan advertised at 8.5% with a high upfront fee has a higher APR than one at 8.6% with almost no fee.
Agent tip: Compare lenders using APR from the key fact statement, and always ask which charges are included in the figure.
Related:
Key Fact Statement (KFS)
Processing Fee
Home Loan
Annual Rental Value (ARV) Method
Tax & Duties
Also called: ARV System
A way to calculate property tax based on the yearly rent the property could earn. The municipality applies a rate to this value, after deductions, to arrive at the tax bill.
Example & agent tip
Example: A municipality assesses a shop in an old market by estimating the rent it should fetch, then applies the tax rate on that figure.
Agent tip: When a bill looks too high, ask how the rental value was determined and whether rent control or old records were applied.
Related:
Property Tax
Unit Area Value (UAV) System
Capital Value System
AnyROR
Land Records
Also called: Any ROR, AnyROR Gujarat
Gujarat's online service for village form 7/12, 8-A and 6 (mutation) extracts. Citizens can view the record of rights for any survey number in the state without going to the taluka office.
Example & agent tip
Example: A buyer of farmland near Anand opens AnyROR and finds an entry for a bank charge on the land that the seller said had been repaid years ago.
Agent tip: Download the 7/12 and the 6 (mutation register) extract on the same day. Those two show the owner, the encumbrances and the history of changes.
Related:
Satbara Utara (7/12)
8A Extract
Mutation
Bhulekh
AP RERA
Authorities
The Andhra Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority, which regulates projects and agents in Andhra Pradesh.
Example & agent tip
Example: A Visakhapatnam buyer checks a project on the AP RERA portal.
Agent tip: Andhra Pradesh uses patta and other southern land records.
Related:
RERA Authority
Patta
How to become a RERA agent in Andhra Pradesh →
Apartment
Property Types
Also called: Dwelling Unit
A self-contained residential unit in a multi-storey building, sold with an undivided share in the land and common areas. RERA treats it as a unit that must be priced on carpet area.
Legal basis: Defined in Section 2(e) of the RERA Act, 2016. Many states also have an apartment ownership law.
Example & agent tip
Example: Ms. Kaur buys a 2 BHK in a Panchkula tower. She owns the flat and an undivided share of the land beneath it.
Agent tip: In most north Indian states the words apartment and flat are used interchangeably. Use the term that appears in the agreement.
Related:
Flat
Undivided Share of Land (UDS)
Carpet Area
Apartment Ownership Act
General & Places
A state law that allows individual ownership of flats in a building and sets rules for common areas and associations. Examples include the Maharashtra Apartment Ownership Act, 1970, the Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act, 1972, and the Delhi Apartment Ownership Act, 1986.
Example & agent tip
Example: Under a state apartment ownership law, a flat owner has a deed, a share in the common areas and a vote in the association.
Agent tip: Check the state's act together with RERA when you deal with association matters.
Related:
Apartment
Undivided Share of Land (UDS)
Apna Khata
Land Records
Also called: Apna Khata Rajasthan
Rajasthan's online land record service, from which owners can download the jamabandi nakal, the khasra and the map. It is used to confirm who the khatedar is and which survey numbers the person holds.
Example & agent tip
Example: In Jodhpur, Meena downloads the jamabandi from Apna Khata and sees the seller's brother also listed as khatedar of the same khasra.
Agent tip: Check every khatedar in the extract. If the seller is only one of several, all of them must sign the deed.
Related:
Khatedar
Jamabandi
Khasra Number
Girdawari
Apostille
Documents
A certificate that authenticates a document for use in another country that is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. India is a party, and the Ministry of External Affairs issues apostilles for Indian documents.
Example & agent tip
Example: An NRI in the UK signs a POA there and gets it apostilled before sending it to India.
Agent tip: Where a POA is signed abroad, check the requirements for authentication and stamping when it reaches India.
Related:
Power of Attorney (POA)
NRI (Non-Resident Indian)
Notary
Application Form (Booking Form)
Documents
The form a buyer signs and submits with the booking amount when applying for a unit in a project. It records unit preferences, price and terms at the time of booking.
Example & agent tip
Example: A buyer fills a booking form for a 3 BHK with a cheque for ₹5 lakh.
Agent tip: Never pay a booking amount without receiving the stamped receipt and a copy of the form.
Related:
Booking Amount
Allotment Letter
Approved Layout
Approvals
A land development plan sanctioned by the competent authority, showing plots, roads, open spaces and services. A plot in an approved layout can get building plan approval, utility connections and bank loans.
Example & agent tip
Example: Two plots on the same road are priced differently because one lies inside an approved layout and the other in an unapproved colony.
Agent tip: Ask for the layout approval number and verify it with the authority. Do not accept a builder's brochure as proof.
Related:
Layout Plan
Unauthorized Construction
Development Authority
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
Legal
Also called: Arbitration Act, A&C Act
The law that governs arbitration in India, where a private arbitrator decides a dispute instead of a court, and also covers conciliation and enforcement of awards. Many builder agreements and commercial leases carry an arbitration clause.
Legal basis: Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, as amended.
Example & agent tip
Example: A commercial landlord and tenant in Bengaluru go to arbitration under their lease. The arbitrator's award is later enforced by the court.
Agent tip: Read the arbitration clause in the agreement before signing. Check the seat, the number of arbitrators and who bears the fees.
Related:
Arbitration Clause
Mediation
Lok Adalat
Civil Court
Arbitration Clause
Legal
A contract term that sends disputes to arbitration instead of court. Under RERA, buyers can still approach the RERA authority despite such a clause.
Legal basis: Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Example & agent tip
Example: A builder-buyer agreement says all disputes go to arbitration, but the buyer files a complaint with the state RERA authority.
Agent tip: Courts have held that an arbitration clause does not bar RERA remedies. Take legal advice before relying on it.
Related:
Builder-Buyer Agreement
RERA Authority
Archaeological Monument NOC (ASI NOC)
Approvals
Also called: ASI NOC
Permission needed to build near a monument protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Law restricts construction in a zone around such monuments, and repairs or new building in the regulated area need a competent authority's clearance.
Legal basis: Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (as amended in 2010)
Example & agent tip
Example: A hotel plan in Delhi near a protected tomb had to wait for the competent authority's permission before approval.
Agent tip: If a plot is near an old fort or tomb, check with the ASI early. Distances are set by law and notification.
Related:
Heritage Zone Clearance
No Objection Certificate (NOC)
Building Plan Approval
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
Authorities
The central agency that protects monuments. Under the law, construction is banned within a prohibited area around a protected monument, and regulated in a wider area, so plots near such sites may need approval.
Legal basis: Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, as amended in 2010.
Example & agent tip
Example: A plot buyer near a protected fort checks whether the plot lies in the prohibited or regulated area.
Agent tip: Ask the seller about nearby protected monuments and confirm the distances with the ASI or local authority.
Related:
Zoning (Land Use Zone)
Sanctioned Plan
No Objection Certificate (NOC)
Area Statement
Documents
A statement from the developer that breaks down carpet area, balcony area, common area share and total saleable area for a unit.
Example & agent tip
Example: The area statement shows 920 sq ft carpet, 80 sq ft balcony and 250 sq ft common share.
Agent tip: Ask for it before booking, and check that the carpet area matches the RERA registration.
Related:
Carpet Area
Super Built-Up Area
Loading Factor
Arrears and Unrealised Rent
Tax & Duties
Also called: Unrealised Rent Recovered
Rent that was due earlier but was received late, or that was unpaid and recovered later. When received, it is taxed in the year of receipt, with a deduction of 30% allowed on it, whether or not the property is still owned.
Legal basis: Section 25A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (renumbered in the 2025 Act).
Example & agent tip
Example: A landlord recovers six months of unpaid rent after a court case two years later, and pays tax on it in the year he receives it.
Agent tip: Keep court orders and rent records. They are the evidence that the rent was truly unrealised.
Related:
Income from House Property
Eviction
Rent Agreement
Artist's Impression
General & Places
A drawing or computer image in a brochure or advertisement showing how the project may look after completion. It is illustrative and may differ from what is built, so buyers should rely on sanctioned plans and the agreement.
Example & agent tip
Example: A brochure picture shows a lake view from every tower, but the sanctioned layout shows a road on that side.
Agent tip: Explain to buyers that images are not binding. Point to the registered plan.
Related:
Brochure Disclaimer
Sanctioned Plan
Amenities
As-Built Drawing
Approvals
Also called: Completion Plan
A set of drawings showing the building exactly as it was constructed, including any changes during construction. Authorities often ask for it with the completion certificate application, and owners use it for repairs and future work.
Example & agent tip
Example: A housing society in Panchkula needed the as-built drawings to locate buried pipes when planning a new water tank.
Agent tip: Ask the builder to hand over as-built architectural, structural and services drawings with the completion papers.
Related:
Completion Certificate (CC)
Sanctioned Plan
MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing)
Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC)
Finance
Also called: ARC
A company registered with the RBI that buys bad loans from banks and tries to recover the money, often by selling or restructuring the secured property. Some properties reaching the market come from ARC portfolios.
Legal basis: Registered under the SARFAESI Act, 2002 and regulated by the RBI.
Example & agent tip
Example: A bank sells a defaulted loan on a Kharar warehouse to an ARC, which then advertises the warehouse for sale to recover its money.
Agent tip: Properties from an ARC are sold as is. Check the sale notice, the dues, and whether any court case is pending.
Related:
SARFAESI Act
NPA (Non-Performing Asset)
Bank Auction Property
Assisted Living
Property Types
A residential facility for older people who need help with daily activities, offering meals, health monitoring and care staff in addition to housing. It differs from a retirement community where residents are independent. Fees are charged monthly or as a deposit plus charges.
Example & agent tip
Example: A retired teacher in Dehradun moves into an assisted living home that includes meals and nurse support for a monthly fee.
Agent tip: Ask for the fee structure, refund terms and what happens if the operator closes or care needs rise.
Related:
Senior Living
Serviced Apartment
Security Deposit
Association of Allottees
RERA
A body formed by the buyers of a project to manage common areas and deal with the promoter. The promoter must hand over common areas to it.
Legal basis: RERA Act, 2016, Sections 11(4)(e) and 17.
Example & agent tip
Example: Residents form an association of allottees, which then takes over the common areas.
Agent tip: Encourage new buyers to join early, as the association can file a complaint for the whole project.
Related:
Co-operative Housing Society
Conveyance Deed
Assured Return
Agent Practice
A promise by a developer to pay the buyer a fixed return, often rent or interest, until possession or for a period after.
Example & agent tip
Example: A commercial project promises 12% assured return for three years on the booking amount.
Agent tip: Assured returns have caused many disputes. Be careful when you advise on them and note the legal position of such schemes.
Related:
Subvention Scheme
Rental Yield
Attachment of Property
Legal
Also called: Kurki, Property Attachment, Court Attachment
A court or authority order that freezes a property so the owner cannot sell it while a debt or claim is decided. The order may be recorded in the registry or revenue record, and a sale made after it may be void against the claimant.
Example & agent tip
Example: A court in Panipat attaches a shop in a money-recovery case, and the attachment is noted in the revenue record. The owner's later sale to a buyer is challenged.
Agent tip: Search for attachments in the court and registrar records. A buyer who ignores one risks losing the property.
Related:
Encumbrance
Lis Pendens
Civil Court
Litigation Check
Attesting Witness
Documents
Also called: Witness, Gawah
A person who sees a document being signed and also signs it as witness. For a registered deed, witnesses and identifiers help prove identity and execution if the document is later challenged.
Example & agent tip
Example: In a Jalandhar gift deed, two neighbours sign as witnesses after seeing the donor sign, and the sub-registrar notes their identity.
Agent tip: Choose witnesses who know the signatory and will be reachable later. Avoid strangers brought only for the day.
Related:
Sale Deed
Registration (Property)
Sub-Registrar
Affidavit
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Block
Construction
Also called: AAC Block, Aerocon Block
A light, factory-made building block with tiny air pockets, used to build walls. It is lighter than clay brick, speeds up work and insulates against heat, but it needs the right mortar and plaster to avoid cracks.
Example & agent tip
Example: A developer in Mohali chose AAC block walls for a 14-storey tower to cut the dead load on the frame and to finish floors faster.
Agent tip: Ask whether the builder used proper jointing mortar and a mesh at wall-to-column joints. Poor finishing is the usual cause of cracks in block walls.
Related:
Fly Ash Brick
Framed Structure
Slab