Also known as CC
After construction, the developer applies to the municipal corporation or development authority, which inspects the building against the approved plan, setbacks, height and FSI. If it complies, the authority issues a completion certificate. In many cities it comes before, or together with, the occupancy certificate, which permits people to live in the building.
The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 defines the completion certificate and requires the promoter to obtain it and make it available to allottees. Buyers of ready-to-move flats ask for it alongside the occupancy certificate, because a building without them can face difficulties with water and electricity connections, loans and resale.
The name and sequence vary: some authorities issue a single certificate covering both, others split them, and some issue part completion for a phase or tower.
Example
A 2 BHK in a Pune tower is advertised as ready to move at ₹95 lakh. The broker asks the developer for the completion certificate and occupancy certificate for Tower B. Only Tower A has them; Tower B is still awaiting inspection. The buyer’s bank agrees to sanction the loan but holds disbursement until the certificates for Tower B are issued.
Figures are illustrative, not market rates.
Questions about Completion certificate
What is the difference between a completion certificate and an occupancy certificate?
The completion certificate confirms the building matches the sanctioned plan; the occupancy certificate permits it to be occupied. Some authorities issue both together, others separately. Buyers of finished flats should ask for both, and check that the tower and wing numbers match their unit.
Can I register a flat without a completion certificate?
An agreement for sale can be registered during construction. Problems usually appear later: utility connections, home loans, resale and society formation can all depend on the completion and occupancy certificates, so buyers should treat a missing certificate as a risk to be explained in writing.
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