🎓 Legal Help
Complaint Against Builder 2026: WBHIRA (RERA) Online Complaint for Delayed Possession, Rs 1000 Fee
Builder delaying flat possession, false advertising claims or design changes in West Bengal? How to file an online complaint with WBHIRA (hira.wb.gov.in) — the ₹1,000 fee, documents, compensation and deadlines.
The allotment letter said possession in 2024 — 2026 is passing too, and where the flat should be there is still a pile of bricks. The money is sunk, the EMI is running, and rent has to be paid as well. In this situation the law hands you an armed route — in West Bengal its name is WBHIRA. And the good news: the complaint can be filed online, yourself, for a fee of just ₹1,000.
Understand first: in Bengal, ‘RERA’ means WBHIRA
The central RERA law was not adopted by West Bengal — this state has its own HIRA Act (2017), overseen by WBHIRA. So the application goes to hira.wb.gov.in, not the central rera.gov.in. The mechanics are nearly identical: project registration is mandatory, advertising claims are binding, and the possession date is legally promised.
Which complaints go to HIRA
- Delayed possession — the flat/plot not received past the agreement date
- Refund with interest — if you want to cancel the agreement
- False advertising claims — “pool at ₹4 a month, 24-hour water” that doesn’t exist
- Changes beyond the sanctioned plan — floors, area or common facilities altered
- Selling an unregistered project — an offence in itself, extending to penalties
Where HIRA won’t apply: troubles buying an old flat/house from a private owner, rent disputes, post-registration deed conflicts — for these, the consumer commission or a civil court.
Don’t skip this step before the complaint
Send the builder a written complaint — by email, and if no response, by registered post. Write: the allotment number, the promised date, how many days late, and what you want. If there’s no reply in 30–45 days — go to HIRA with the whole paper trail. In many cases this letter alone brings the builder to the table.
Filing the online complaint on hira.wb.gov.in: step by step
- Verify the project — on the portal, look up the project’s HIRA registration number and status by name
- Register/log in in the Complaints section
- In the form: project details, the builder’s name and address, a clear statement of the complaint (with dates and numbers), and your claim
- Upload the documents — agreement, allotment letter, payment receipts, copies of complaints sent to the builder
- Pay the ₹1,000 fee online and submit — save the complaint number
- Attend on the hearing date (you can go yourself; a lawyer is better)
What the order can give you
- A direction to hand over possession within a set time
- Refund with interest (on cancelling the agreement)
- Compensation for the delay
- A fine on the builder if advertising fraud is proven
If the builder refuses to comply, there is a separate process for executing HIRA’s order — think through the next step with a lawyer.
Shut this risk down before you buy
- Ask for the project’s HIRA number — best not to put money into an unregistered project at all
- Sign only after checking the agreement clearly states the possession date
- Not just the “sample flat” — match the sanction papers and approvals
See also
🪜 Step-by-step guide
- Check the project registration
On hira.wb.gov.in, search the project's name/number to see whether the builder is registered with HIRA — an unregistered project is itself a separate offence.
- Written complaint to the builder
Notify them by email/registered post, stating the debt and the deadline — if no reply comes, that itself is HIRA evidence.
- Complaint on the HIRA portal
hira.wb.gov.in → Complaints — register, fill the form, and give the project and complaint details.
- Upload documents and pay the fee
Upload the agreement, receipts and complaint copies as PDFs and pay the ₹1,000 fee online.
- Hearing and order
Both parties are heard — the order can direct possession by a date, a refund with interest, or compensation.
❓ Frequently asked questions
How much compensation can you get for a delayed flat?
Under the HIRA law, if possession doesn't happen by the promised date, the buyer can choose — either cancel the agreement and get the full money back with interest, or continue to possession with interest-bearing compensation for each month of delay. The interest rate is set per the order/agreement.
What is the difference between HIRA and RERA?
Effectively the same kind of law — the Centre's is RERA, West Bengal's own version is HIRA (Housing Industry Regulation Act, 2017). In Bengal, the powers rest with WBHIRA, on the portal hira.wb.gov.in. People often say 'RERA complaint', but the application actually goes to HIRA.
Does HIRA cover a hand-written private house or buying an old flat?
No. HIRA covers only registered/registerable real-estate projects — a builder's new flat/plot projects. Problems buying an old flat from a private seller go to the consumer commission or a civil suit.
What is the complaint fee and how long does it take?
The complaint filing fee is ₹1,000 (₹10,000 on appeal). The hearing stage targets disposal within 60 days, though in reality case backlog can take longer.