1070+ property terms explained in plain words: RERA, land records (Fard, Jamabandi, 7/12, Patta), documents, law, tax, finance and state-specific vocabulary. Each term has its legal basis, an Indian example and a tip for agents.
Reviewed 16 October 2026 · 1073 terms · 14 topics
Moving an existing home loan to another lender offering a lower rate or better terms.
Example: A borrower moves a 9.3% loan to a bank offering 8.6%, saving interest over the remaining tenure.
Agent tip: Compare the processing fee and legal costs with the savings.
Related: Home Loan Processing Fee
The projecting or recessed outdoor space attached to a flat. Under RERA the exclusive balcony is not part of carpet area, so builders show it separately.
Legal basis: Section 2(k) and its explanation in the RERA Act, 2016.
Example: A 2 BHK lists 780 sq ft carpet area and 70 sq ft of balcony. The buyer should not pay carpet-area rate on the balcony if the agreement treats it separately.
Agent tip: Read the agreement to see whether balconies are charged at full or reduced rate.
Related: Carpet Area Built-Up Area
A locality in Zirakpur on the Chandigarh-Ambala side with apartments, plots and small commercial areas. Buyers check road access, drainage and whether projects fall under approved colonies.
Example: A buyer in Baltana asks whether the flat is in a RERA-registered project.
Agent tip: Check the licence and RERA details of each project, because pockets in Baltana differ widely.
Related: Zirakpur Peer Muchalla Colony Licence
Also called: BKC
A planned business district in Mumbai, developed by MMRDA, on reclaimed land between Bandra and Kurla. It is known for Grade A offices, financial institutions, consulates and the nearby metro and road links.
Example: A start-up looks at leasing a small office in BKC and compares it with an office in Andheri for client access.
Agent tip: BKC office space is leased and often governed by MMRDA lease terms; verify the lease and any transfer fees.
Related: MMRDA Grade A Office Office Space Leasehold Property
Also called: Banglar Bhumi
West Bengal's online portal for land records, run by the land and land reforms department. Users search the record of rights and plot maps, apply for mutation and check the status of applications.
Example: Before buying a plot in New Town, Kolkata, Rina searches the plot on Banglarbhumi and sees that the recorded land type is farmland, not residential.
Agent tip: Print the portal record on the day of registration. Banglarbhumi also shows the mutation status, so check whether the seller's own name is already recorded.
Related: Khatian Dag Number (Plot Number) Mutation Bhulekh
Also called: Banjar Jadid, Banjar Qadim, Barren Land
Uncultivated land in the revenue records of north India, divided into banjar jadid (fallow for a few years, though cultivable) and banjar qadim (fallow for a long time). Both classes are different from land under regular cultivation.
Example: A buyer in Ambala finds a 5-acre plot listed as banjar qadim and learns that such land is treated as agricultural for the purpose of conversion.
Agent tip: Banjar status does not mean the land is free for development. The same agricultural rules, CLU and master plan checks still apply.
Related: Agricultural Land Gair Mumkin Change of Land Use (CLU) Jamabandi
A property sold by a bank or financial institution to recover dues from a defaulting borrower. It is usually sold "as is where is".
Example: A bank puts a flat on e-auction with a reserve price below the market value.
Agent tip: Inspect the property and legal papers. Possession, dues and litigation are the buyer's risk.
Related: SARFAESI Act Foreclosure Due Diligence
Also called: Technical Valuation, Bank Valuer Report
A valuation of the property commissioned by the lender through an empanelled valuer, to confirm its market value and construction status before it lends. The bank lends against its own assessed value, which may be lower than the price you agreed.
Example: Tarun agrees to pay ₹80 lakh for a flat in Dera Bassi, but the bank valuer assesses it at ₹72 lakh, so the loan is calculated on the lower figure and Tarun must fund the gap.
Agent tip: Warn buyers that a low valuation shifts more of the cost to them. Share nearby recent sale deeds with the valuer if the price is fair.
A town and surrounding area in Punjab near Zirakpur and Mohali, where several residential and industrial projects have come up. Land use and approvals vary widely, so check each project separately.
Example: A buyer sees an ad for plots in Banur and asks whether the colony is approved.
Agent tip: Check the licence of every colony in Banur and its RERA registration, since quality varies.
Related: Zirakpur Colony Licence Approved Layout
A commercial space delivered with only the basic structure, without flooring, ceiling, partitions or finishes. The tenant does the fit-out.
Example: An office is leased as a bare shell. The tenant spends ₹1,200 per sq ft on interiors.
Agent tip: Compare fit-out cost and rent-free periods when you compare bare shell with ready offices.
Related: Warm Shell Office Space
Also called: বাড়ি, Bari Bhara
The Bengali word for house or home. It is used in forms such as "bari bhara" for house rent, and for an independent house in a listing.
Example: A family in Howrah sees a "bari bhara" notice outside a ground-floor house.
Agent tip: Ask for a written rent agreement even in informal "bari bhara" deals, and for the owner's identity documents.
Related: Independent House Rent Agreement Tenant Landlord
The floor of a building that lies below ground. Approved use varies by state and authority, and often includes parking, storage and services.
Example: A project's basement is approved for parking only, but the builder tries to sell it as shops.
Agent tip: Check what the sanctioned plan allows in the basement, and whether the basement is counted in FAR.
Related: Stilt Raft Foundation Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
The base rate per sq ft or per unit before extra charges such as PLC, floor rise, parking, club membership, taxes and maintenance deposits.
Example: The BSP is ₹6,000 per sq ft, but with extras the buyer's all-in rate is ₹7,150.
Agent tip: Convert BSP into an all-in price for clients.
Related: Price Sheet (Cost Sheet) Preferential Location Charges (PLC) Floor Rise Charges
Also called: Barga, Bargadar, Operation Barga
A sharecropper in West Bengal who cultivates another's land for a share of the crop and whose name is recorded under the state's Operation Barga programme. A recorded bataidar has hereditary tenancy rights, which cannot be ended at will.
Example: A buyer in Hooghly finds a recorded bataidar in the khatian of a 3-acre field. The seller said the land was free of tenants.
Agent tip: Look in the remarks column of the record for barga entries. A recorded bataidar has strong rights and affects the land's value.
Related: Khatian Agricultural Tenancy Land Reforms Banglarbhumi
Also called: Bayana Amount, Advance
A Hindi word for the advance paid by a buyer when agreeing to buy a property. It is normally a part of the sale price and is given with a written receipt or agreement, and may be forfeited if the buyer backs out.
Example: A buyer pays ₹5 lakh as bayana and gets a receipt stating the balance payment date.
Agent tip: Always issue a written receipt stating the property, amount, balance and last date.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, the former municipal body of Bengaluru. From September 2025 it was replaced by the Greater Bengaluru Authority with five city corporations. Older documents still carry its name.
Example: A khata certificate issued in 2022 still shows BBMP.
Agent tip: For current work in Bengaluru, check which of the new corporations covers the property.
Related: Khata (Karnataka) BDA Municipal Corporation
The Bangalore Development Authority, which plans, develops and allots sites and flats in Bengaluru and approves layouts.
Example: A Bengaluru buyer buys a BDA site and receives a sale deed from the authority.
Agent tip: Check whether the site has A-khata.
Related: Development Authority Khata (Karnataka)
A horizontal structural member that carries the loads of slabs and walls and transfers them to columns.
Example: Beams run along the edges of a slab and connect the columns of the building.
Agent tip: Cutting or altering beams during interior work can weaken the structure. Warn clients against it.
Related: Column Slab Structural Stability Certificate
A deal in which property is held by one person but paid for by another, who is the real beneficiary. The law prohibits it, and the property can be confiscated.
Legal basis: Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988, as amended in 2016. Penalties include imprisonment of one to seven years and a fine of up to 25% of fair market value. The constitutional validity of some provisions has been in dispute.
Example: A businessman buys a flat in his driver's name to hide the money. The authorities can attach the flat.
Agent tip: Do not take part in deals where the buyer and payer are different without a lawful reason.
Related: Title Due Diligence
Also called: BM
A fixed reference point of known height above mean sea level, marked on a permanent object. Surveyors and engineers use it to set the levels of roads, floors and drains in a project.
Example: The engineer used a nearby benchmark to set the plinth level of a Panchkula house well above the road to avoid water entering.
Agent tip: Plinth level against the road matters. A house built below road level can get flooded in heavy rain.
Related: Contour Line Plinth Topographical Survey
Shorthand for bedroom, hall and kitchen. A 2 BHK has two bedrooms, one living room and one kitchen. The label says nothing about size, so two 2 BHKs can differ greatly in carpet area.
Example: One builder's 2 BHK has 650 sq ft carpet area and a competitor's has 900 sq ft. Both are sold as 2 BHK.
Agent tip: Always add the carpet area when you describe a BHK type.
Related: Carpet Area Studio Apartment RK (Room Kitchen)
Also called: Bhudan Land, Bhoodan Yajna Land
Land donated for the landless during the Bhoodan movement of the 1950s and later. State Bhoodan laws normally restrict its sale or transfer, and unallotted donated land stays under a Bhoodan board.
Example: In Jharkhand, a seller offers a 2-acre field once donated under the Bhoodan movement. The record shows it was allotted to a landless family with a bar on sale.
Agent tip: If the revenue record mentions Bhoodan, do not accept a private deed alone. Get the allotment order and the state's transfer rules checked.
Related: Agricultural Land Revenue Record Land Reforms Title
Also called: Bhoomi Portal
Karnataka's computerised land records system, through which farmers and buyers get the RTC (record of rights, tenancy and crops) and mutation extracts online. It replaced the old village accountant registers.
Example: A buyer from Mysuru downloads the RTC for a 1-acre site on the Bhoomi portal and sees a bank loan entry that the seller did not mention.
Agent tip: Always pull a fresh RTC just before registration. Entries for loans, court orders or tenants appear there and can change in weeks.
Related: RTC (Pahani) Mutation Record of Rights (RoR) Khata (Karnataka)
Also called: Dharani, Bhu Bharathi
Telangana's land record law and portal, introduced in 2025 to replace the earlier Dharani system. It holds records of rights, handles mutation and sale registration linkage, and provides an appeal route against revenue officials' decisions.
Example: After buying agricultural land near Warangal, Srinivas checks that the Bhu Bharati record shows his name along with the survey number, instead of relying only on the registered deed.
Agent tip: Older Dharani printouts may be outdated. Ask for a fresh record from the current portal and check the state's latest procedure for mutation.
Related: Record of Rights (RoR) Mutation Survey Number Revenue Record
Also called: Cadastral Map, Village Map, Naksha, Bhunaksha
The official digital or paper map of a village or ward that shows each survey or khasra parcel with its boundaries and number. It lets a buyer see the shape and neighbours of a plot, and match it with the written record of rights.
Example: Before buying 2 acres near Hoshiarpur, Gurpreet pulls the cadastral map and sees that the land has a narrow 8-foot neck to the road, which the seller's brochure never mentioned.
Agent tip: Compare the map shape with the area written in the deed. If the numbers differ noticeably, ask for fresh demarcation before paying the balance.
Related: Survey Number Khasra Number Demarcation Revenue Record
The capital of Odisha, a planned city with temples, tech parks, universities and a growing apartment market. Chandrasekharpur, Patia and Rasulgarh are well-known localities.
Example: A government employee on transfer to Bhubaneswar rents near Patia first, and decides on a purchase later.
Agent tip: Confirm Odisha RERA registration through ORERA and the development authority approval.
Related: ORERA Development Authority Master Plan Rent Agreement
Also called: भूखंड
The Marathi word for a plot of land, often used in official notices and advertisements for building plots in Maharashtra. It differs from "shet jamin", meaning farmland.
Example: A buyer sees a "bhukhand" notice in Nashik and asks if the plot has an NA order.
Agent tip: Ask whether a bhukhand is NA-converted and sanctioned by the planning authority.
Related: Plot NA (Non-Agricultural) Order Approved Layout Agricultural Land
A common name for state online land record portals, such as Bhulekh in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, and Mahabhulekh in Maharashtra.
Example: A buyer in Lucknow downloads the khatauni from the state's Bhulekh portal.
Agent tip: Use the official portal. Third-party sites may show outdated data.
Related: Revenue Record Khatauni
Also called: Bhumidhari, Bhumidhar with Transferable Rights
A land-holder category in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the zamindari abolition law. Bhumidhars hold land directly from the state, with rights that were either freely transferable or restricted, depending on the sub-class.
Example: A buyer in Meerut finds the seller listed as a bhumidhar with non-transferable rights. The revenue code generally bars a sale of such land, so the buyer drops the deal and checks whether the status has changed.
Agent tip: In UP, check the category in the khatauni before agreeing to buy. It decides whether and how the land can be sold.
Related: Khatauni Zamindari Abolition Revenue Record Agricultural Land
A traditional land unit whose size differs widely by state and even by district. It may be roughly a sixth of an acre in one place and more than half an acre in another.
Example: A "5 bigha" farm in Rajasthan is a very different size from "5 bigha" in Assam or West Bengal.
Agent tip: Never quote bigha without the state. Ask for the local conversion in the revenue record before pricing the land.
Related: Biswa Kanal Khasra Number
Also called: BOQ
An itemised list of materials, labour and work quantities with rates, used to price a construction job and to compare contractor bids. It makes payment claims easier to check because each item has a measured quantity.
Example: A villa owner in Zirakpur got three BOQs from contractors and found one had left out the waterproofing line entirely.
Agent tip: When hiring a contractor, insist on a detailed BOQ. Vague lump-sum quotes are a common source of cost disputes.
Related: Specifications Turnkey Retention Money
A subdivision of a bigha, commonly 1/20 of a bigha. The size depends on the local bigha used in that state or tehsil.
Example: In parts of north India land is described as "3 bigha 5 biswa" in the revenue record.
Agent tip: If a seller uses biswa, ask for the equivalent in sq yards or sq metres from the revenue record.
Related: Bigha Khasra Number
A small traditional land unit used in northern India, one-twentieth of a biswa. It appears in revenue records of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, where land is recorded in bighas, biswas and biswansis.
Example: A khatauni in western Uttar Pradesh recorded a family's share as a few bigha, some biswa and a few biswansi.
Agent tip: Sizes of bigha, biswa and biswansi differ by state. Check the local conversion in the revenue office.
The Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority, which plans the wider Bengaluru region beyond the city limits.
Example: A site on the edge of Bengaluru falls under BMRDA's master plan.
Agent tip: Check the planning authority for peripheral land.
Related: Development Authority Master Plan
A buyer who pays fair value and acts in good faith, without knowing of a defect in the seller's title. In certain cases, the law protects such a buyer against earlier unknown claims, but only if proper care was taken to inquire.
Example: A buyer in Pune checks the registrar's records and the revenue record, pays by bank transfer and registers the deed. Later, an unknown claimant surfaces, and the buyer's good faith helps him defend.
Agent tip: Good faith needs proof. Keep the title search, the receipts and the bank trail with the deal file.
Related: Marketable Title Constructive Notice Title Search Fraudulent Transfer
Also called: Booking Money
The initial sum paid to reserve a unit, adjusted against the price. Under RERA the promoter cannot take more than 10% of the cost as advance before a registered agreement for sale.
Legal basis: Section 13 of the RERA Act, 2016.
Example: A buyer pays ₹5 lakh as booking amount on a ₹60 lakh flat. This is under the 10% limit.
Agent tip: If a developer asks for more than 10% before the agreement for sale, warn the client.
Related: Agreement for Sale Token Amount Earnest Money
Also called: Property Boundary Survey
A survey that fixes and marks the exact limits of a plot on the ground, checking them against the title papers and revenue maps. It shows encroachment, gaps and overlaps with neighbours.
Example: A boundary survey in Zirakpur showed that a neighbour's wall stood a foot inside the buyer's plot.
Agent tip: Insist on an on-ground boundary survey with the neighbours present before buying land or paying the final instalment.
Related: Demarcation Mojani Shajra
A wall around the perimeter of a plot or project. Its position should match the legal boundary.
Example: A boundary wall built 1 foot over the neighbour's land leads to a dispute.
Agent tip: Verify the wall position through demarcation.
Related: Demarcation Plot Area
The point at which rental income covers all ownership costs such as EMI, maintenance and taxes.
Example: With monthly costs of ₹55,000 and rent of ₹30,000, the investor needs more rent or a lower EMI to break even.
Agent tip: Include vacancy months in your break-even calculation.
Also called: Gap Loan
A short-term loan taken to cover a gap, for example when a person must pay for a new home before selling the old one. It is usually repaid in full from the sale proceeds and carries a higher rate than a normal home loan.
Example: Rajesh pays the booking amount on a new flat in Panchkula using a bridge loan, planning to repay it when his old apartment sells.
Agent tip: Warn clients that if the sale of the old home is delayed, they pay costly interest. Ask for a realistic repayment window.
Related: Home Loan Booking Amount Tenure
The civic body of Mumbai that sanctions building plans in the city, issues commencement and occupancy certificates, collects property tax and runs services. It is also called the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.
Example: A Mumbai buyer checks the corporation's records for the occupancy certificate of an older building.
Agent tip: In Mumbai, verify the building's plan approvals and occupancy status with the corporation.
Related: Municipal Corporation Occupancy Certificate (OC) MahaRERA
Small print in a brochure saying images, plans, specifications and dimensions are indicative and subject to change. Promoters cannot use disclaimers to avoid the details they have registered under RERA or false claims they have made.
Example: A brochure disclaimer says the plan is not to scale, but the registered plan fixes the actual area.
Agent tip: Read the disclaimer and compare brochure details with the RERA-registered plan.
Related: Artist's Impression Section 12 (RERA) Specifications
A general term for an intermediary who brings buyers and sellers together for a commission. Under RERA, a broker who deals in projects covered by the Act is a real estate agent and must register.
Example: A local broker who sells resale flats in an old society may not need RERA registration, while one who sells in a registered project does.
Agent tip: Use the word agent for professional communication, and explain the RERA rules to clients.
Related: Real Estate Agent Channel Partner Brokerage
The fee or commission an agent charges for facilitating a sale, purchase or lease. It may be a percentage of the value or a fixed amount.
Example: A resale deal earns 1% brokerage from each side, while a new project pays 2% from the developer.
Agent tip: Agree the brokerage in writing. Verbal promises are the most common source of payment disputes.
Related: Commission Slab Channel Partner Referral Fee
Also called: Agent Mandate, Mandate Letter
A written contract between an agent and a client stating the work, the commission rate or amount, when it becomes payable, how long the arrangement lasts and whether it is exclusive. It avoids later arguments about who earned the fee.
Example: A Zirakpur agent signs a three-month agreement with an owner to sell a flat, with 1% brokerage payable on registration.
Agent tip: Get it signed before showing the property. Put the payout trigger in writing, such as sale deed registration.
Related: Brokerage Exclusive Mandate Commission Dispute
A project built on land that was used before, such as an old factory, mill or buildings. It may need clean-up and clearances.
Example: A developer redevelops a closed mill site into apartments and offices.
Agent tip: Check for environmental clearances and old claims on the site.
Related: Greenfield Project Redevelopment
An independent floor in a low-rise building of typically three to four storeys, sold separately with a proportionate share of land. It is common in Delhi NCR and the Chandigarh Tricity.
Example: A three-storey builder floor on a 250 gaj plot has one family on each floor, with a shared staircase and common land.
Agent tip: Check whether the project is large enough to need RERA registration. Smaller builder floors often are not, so confirm the status.
Related: Apartment Undivided Share of Land (UDS) Plot
Also called: BBA
The common name for the agreement for sale between a developer and a homebuyer. Under RERA it must follow the format prescribed by the state.
Example: A buyer finds that the builder's old agreement lets him cancel with 20% forfeiture, while the RERA format limits one-sided clauses.
Agent tip: If a buyer is offered an agreement that differs from the state's prescribed format, flag it before signing.
Related: Agreement for Sale Allottee Promoter
Also called: Building Regulations, Building Code
Local rules framed by a municipality or development authority that control how buildings are designed and built: plot coverage, height, setbacks, parking, fire safety and light and ventilation. Every approved plan must follow them.
Example: A plot owner in Panchkula found the bye-laws did not allow a stilt floor to be converted into a living space.
Agent tip: Read the bye-laws of the specific authority before promising any extra floor or room to a buyer. Rules differ from city to city.
Related: Development Control Regulations (DCR) Setback Sanctioned Plan
The line, set by the authority, beyond which a building cannot extend toward a road. It is measured from the road edge or centre line and keeps space for future widening, light and air.
Example: A shop owner in Mohali had to cut back a front extension because it crossed the building line fixed along the road.
Agent tip: Check whether a road-widening plan changes the building line of a plot before you buy. It can shrink the buildable area.
Related: Setback Right of Way (ROW) Frontage
Also called: Building Permit, Plan Sanction
Formal permission from the local authority to construct a building as per submitted drawings. It confirms the plan follows zoning, bye-laws and safety norms. Building work should start only after this approval and a commencement certificate.
Example: A farmhouse owner in Kharar submitted drawings online and received the sanction after the authority's scrutiny and fee payment.
Agent tip: Always ask for the sanctioned plan itself, not only the receipt. Compare the approved floors and area with what is being sold.
Related: Sanctioned Plan Commencement Certificate Online Building Plan Approval System (OBPS)
A building constructed or fitted out to a tenant's specifications, usually under a long lease.
Example: A retailer asks a developer to build a warehouse to its design and leases it for 15 years.
Agent tip: Check the exit terms in case the tenant leaves early.
Related: Lease Deed Warehouse
Carpet area plus the thickness of external walls and the exclusive balcony, verandah and open terrace. It is larger than carpet area and is the area the unit actually covers on the floor plate.
Example: A flat has 900 sq ft carpet area, 60 sq ft of wall thickness and a 40 sq ft balcony. The built-up area is 1,000 sq ft.
Agent tip: Built-up area is a convenient industry number but it is not the RERA price basis. If a brochure leads with built-up area, ask for the carpet figure.
Related: Carpet Area Super Built-Up Area Plinth Area
Also called: Bangla
A large independent house, usually one or two floors, standing on its own plot with a garden or open space around it. In many Indian cities the word is used loosely for any big detached home, often with a name board and a boundary wall.
Example: A retired couple in Pune sell their old bungalow on a 1,500 sq yard plot to a builder for redevelopment into apartments.
Agent tip: Large bungalow plots in old cities often have special land-use or heritage conditions. Check them before pitching redevelopment.
Related: Independent House Villa Redevelopment
A low-rise campus of offices, light industrial units and support services in landscaped surroundings, usually on city outskirts. It suits companies that want lower rents, more parking and room to grow than downtown towers offer.
Example: A pharma marketing firm takes a floor in a business park near Zirakpur for cheaper rent and plenty of parking.
Agent tip: Check public transport and staff commute. Outer parks can lose tenants if reaching them is hard.
Related: IT Park Office Space Commercial Property
In everyday use, a person who buys property. Under RERA the formal term is allottee.
Example: A buyer is an allottee once the promoter allots a unit.
Agent tip: Use the term allottee in complaints and legal documents.
An agent who works mainly for the buyer, helping search, check and negotiate, usually paid by the buyer or by agreement. In India most agents are paid by the developer or seller, so buyers should know who the agent is working for.
Example: A buyer from abroad hires an agent to find, check and negotiate a Panchkula flat, paying a fixed fee.
Agent tip: Tell clients clearly whose commission you receive. Honest disclosure builds trust.
Related: Real Estate Agent Conflict of Interest Brokerage Agreement
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