Delayed possession: interest, rent or refund — what can you actually claim?
When a promoter fails to hand over on the agreed date, RERA gives the allottee a choice — and it is genuinely a choice, not a sequence. Understanding both branches before electing one matters, because the decision is difficult to reverse.
Branch one: stay in the project
The allottee continues with the project and claims interest for every month of delay until possession is handed over. This suits buyers who still want the flat and believe it will be delivered.
Branch two: withdraw
The allottee exits and claims a refund of the amounts paid, together with interest. This suits buyers who have lost confidence in delivery, or whose circumstances have changed.
Before you elect
- Check the agreed possession date in the registered agreement, including any grace period.
- Compute what interest to date is actually worth against what a refund returns.
- Consider the promoter's ability to pay — an order against an empty company is a hollow win.
Interest and refund are alternatives, not a menu to be revisited. Elect once, and elect with the numbers in front of you.
Put the claim in writing early. A contemporaneous record of your position strengthens whichever branch you choose.
More reading
Carpet area vs built-up: what allottees are actually paying for
RERA fixed the definition of carpet area for a reason. Here is how to read your agreement — and what to do when the numbers don't add up.
Your project is in CIRP: what happens to your booking, your money and your possession
The moratorium stops your RERA case mid-stride. Here is where your claim goes instead, and what it is worth when it gets there.
Buying under construction? A 9-point RERA due-diligence checklist
Before you sign, run these nine checks on the MahaRERA portal and the agreement. Fifteen minutes now can save years of litigation.