Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for apartment registration, aiming to make the process more transparent, streamlined and uniform across the state.
The SOP has been jointly issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department and the Housing and Urban Development Department. According to the government, the move seeks to address ambiguities arising from varying interpretations of the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2023, the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), and the Registration Act, 1908.
The newly issued guidelines establish a standardised framework for apartment registration and clearly define documentation requirements, verification procedures and registration conditions.
Under the SOP, apartment registrations have been divided into three categories: resale of pre-RERA apartments, first sale of unsold flats in pre-RERA projects and post-RERA apartments. For each category, the SOP specifies the documents required and the procedures to be followed before registration can be completed.
The government has prescribed stricter compliance requirements for post-RERA apartments. Registration of such properties will require adherence to Odisha RERA registration provisions wherever applicable, possession of an Occupancy Certificate, registration of the Association of Allottees and registration of the Declaration under Section 9 of the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act.
The SOP also makes compliance with provisions related to the transfer of common areas and amenities mandatory before registration is approved. Registration of post-RERA apartments will be allowed only after clearance from the competent authority concerned.
To ensure administrative clarity, the SOP clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of competent authorities operating under different jurisdictions, including the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, various Development Authorities and Revenue Sub-Divisions.
The state government has retained the existing one per cent concession in stamp duty for apartment transfers executed in favour of women. In addition, nominal stamp duty and registration fees have been prescribed for deeds relating to the transfer of common areas and amenities to Associations of Allottees.
Officials said the new framework is expected to simplify registration procedures while ensuring greater accountability and consistency in the real estate sector.
According to an official release, the SOP is intended to make apartment registration more citizen-centric while protecting the interests of apartment buyers and strengthening governance in the housing sector.
The initiative is expected to benefit homebuyers, developers, resident associations and registration authorities by providing greater clarity and reducing procedural uncertainties in apartment transactions across Odisha.
