Ani 07 October 2026

Bba never recieved

A buyer of an apartment has never received the BBA document (due to residence shifting). The purchase was made 14 years back and after several delays, the possession of the semi finished flat is being enabled now. In the meantime, the builder has continued to demand and has received more than 80% of the payment. Now, can the Builder charge INR 60,000 (as administrative charge) for sending a fresh original BBA document? Also, is there a need to provide an Indemnity Bond, an FIR, Newspaper ad by the purchaser before the Builder sends the BBA?

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A buyer who purchased an apartment 14 years ago has never received their BBA document, despite paying over 80% of the amount due. The builder is now demanding INR 60,000 as an administrative charge for a fresh BBA and requiring an indemnity bond, FIR, and newspaper ad. Under RERA, builders are obligated to provide the BBA, and charging for it or demanding these specific documents when the buyer never received the original is generally considered an unfair trade practice. The buyer should consider filing a complaint with RERA or a Consumer Commission.

3 Replies

Combo Legal Consultancy 10 October 2026

The builder's demand is largely unjustified. Under Section 13 of RERA, a promoter is legally obligated to provide a copy of the executed agreement to the allottee. The builder, not the buyer, bears the responsibility to maintain and hand over these documents. National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) rulings have consistently directed builders to supply the BBA copy without imposing arbitrary charges. The Rs 60,000 "administrative charge" has no statutory backing and is an unfair trade practice. Regarding the requirements: an Indemnity Bond is typically a precautionary measure, and you can argue it is unnecessary if the loss was due to the builder's failure to deliver. An FIR and newspaper advertisement are standard procedures only when a buyer loses a document in their possession. Since you never received it, these should not be mandatory. Remedy: File a complaint before your State RERA Authority or Consumer Commission, seeking a direction to the builder to provide the BBA copy free of cost and to refrain from levying illegal charges.

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Ani 12 October 2026

Thanks Combo Legal Consultancy.

the builder is now asking to file a Non-Cognizable Report. Not sure about it.

T. Kalaiselvan, Advocate (Advocate) 18 October 2026

You have described a textbook example of deficiency in service and unfair trade practice by the builder.

Under Section 13 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), a promoter is legally obligated to execute and register a written Builder-Buyer Agreement (BBA) after taking 10% of the property cost. Demanding 80% of the total cost over a 14-year period without handing over the original executed agreement and then attempting to extract administrative fees while forcing onerous burdens (FIR, indemnity bond, advertisement) for a document they never provided is illegal.

You may send a formal legal notice to the builder's registered office, giving them 15 days to issue/execute the BBA without charging any administrative fees.

If the builder does not comply, file a complaint on your state’s online RERA portal (under Section 31 of RERA). Seek Directions forcing the builder to execute and hand over the BBA, refund/waiver of illegal administrative demands, and penalties on the promoter under Section 61 for violating RERA obligations.

Alternatively, file a complaint before the District/State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for Deficiency in Service and Unfair Trade Practice.