In short
In India, the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) is a central Act, but each State and Union Territory has its own RERA authority and its own register. According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, a real estate agent “has to register themselves with the Authority” under section 9, and an agent working in several States must register in each State or Union Territory. We could read only some of the State portals on 14 October 2026, so before you sign anything, ask the agent for the registration number and search the authority of the State where the property is.
What the agent does
A real estate agent introduces buyers and sellers, or landlords and tenants, and helps negotiate a deal. Under RERA the word covers more than a person in an office: the Ministry’s FAQ is the document we read, and it treats the registration duty as one that applies to agents in general, not to a single type of firm. The agent is not your lawyer, does not check the title, and does not guarantee the builder’s approvals. For the whole sequence of a purchase, see buying a home in India and how to check a RERA project registration.
What the law says
The rule is central: it comes from the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. The Ministry’s FAQ, which we read in full, gives the following about agents:
- Section 9: a “real estate agent … has to register themselves with the Authority”.
- An agent active in more than one State must register in each State or Union Territory, because the registration is a “single registration … for the entire State/UT”.
- Section 10 sets out the functions and obligations of agents.
We could not open the text of the Act itself on India Code (access refused, HTTP 403), so we do not quote the section wording, the registration validity period, the fee or the penalty for an unregistered agent. Fees, forms and validity are fixed by the Rules of each State, so they differ. The authority of the State is the place to confirm them. For what an agent may and may not do in a particular transaction, for example a resale outside a registered project, ask the authority of the State; do not assume.
Which authority, State by State
There is no single national register that we could read. The State portals we reached on 14 October 2026 gave the following.
| State | Authority portal | What we saw |
|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | up-rera.in | Under “Important Links”, “SEARCH”, a “Registered Agent” entry. It runs as a page action, so it has no direct address. |
| Haryana | haryanarera.gov.in | The home page links to HRERA Panchkula and HRERA Gurugram; we found no agent search on the home page itself. |
| Goa | rera.goa.gov.in | A “View Registration” link, and a “List Of Agents” link under “Defaulters”. |
| Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu | not readable | The portals refused the connection. |
| Telangana | not readable | Access refused (HTTP 403). |
| Rajasthan | not readable | The page showed no usable content. |
| Other States and Union Territories | not tried | Look for the State’s RERA authority on the Ministry’s pages. |
Where we write “not readable”, we state nothing about the portal. Go to the authority of your State and look for a search of registered agents.
How to check an agent
- Ask the agent, in writing, for the RERA agent registration number and the State in which it was issued.
- Open the portal of that State’s authority yourself, by typing its address in the browser, and search the number.
- Compare the name and the agency on the register with the name on the agency agreement or the brokerage receipt.
- Check the status of the registration. A registration can lapse or be revoked, so an old certificate or a number printed on a visiting card is not enough.
- If the agent works in a different State from the property, ask for the registration of the State where the property is.
Payotte does not hold or copy any register. Never pay a booking amount to an agent personally; pay the promoter or owner under a written receipt.
What the portals’ terms say
These are the terms we read. Payotte copies none of these registers and gives the portals as text, not as lists of agents.
- Uttar Pradesh (copyright policy): “Material on this site is subject to copyright protection unless otherwise indicated.” “The material may be downloaded without requiring specific prior permission.” “Any other proposed use of the material is subject to the approval of Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority.”
- Uttar Pradesh (hyperlink policy): “Prior permission is required before hyperlinks are directed from any website to this site.” For that reason this page names the UP portal in text and does not link to it.
- Haryana (terms of use): “Material featured on this Portal may be reproduced after taking proper permission by sending a mail to us.” “However, the material has to be reproduced accurately and not to be used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context.” “Wherever the material is being published or issued to others, the source must be prominently acknowledged.”
- Goa, other States: terms not read.
What it costs
We found no official scale of agent commission in the sources we read, and we give no percentage. Commission is agreed between you and the agent. Ask for it in writing, say who pays (the buyer, the seller or both), and ask what is charged on top. Do not rely on a rate quoted orally.
Which professional to consult
A property lawyer (advocate) can read the agency agreement and the agreement for sale before you sign (see property lawyers). For the legal side of the purchase, see agreement for sale vs sale deed. To work out the stamp duty in your State, use the stamp duty calculator.
Questions to ask
- What is your RERA agent registration number, and in which State?
- Is the project itself registered with the RERA authority, and what is its number?
- What is your commission, who pays it and when?
- Who handles my file, and is that person registered too?
- Will you give me the agency terms in writing before I pay anything?
Frequently asked questions
Is there one national agent registration in India?
No. The Act is central, but registration is made with the authority of each State or Union Territory, and an agent working in several States registers in each.
Does RERA say how much an agent can charge?
We found no such rule in the sources we read. Agree the commission in writing.
What if I cannot find the agent on the register?
Check the spelling, the State and the number. If the register still shows nothing, ask the agent to explain in writing, and ask the State authority before paying anything.
Can I rely on a RERA number printed on an advertisement?
A number is only a reference. Search it yourself on the authority’s portal and check its status.
Can Payotte recommend an agent in India?
No. Payotte gives you the rule and the place to check. It does not rank or recommend agents.
Sources
- Real Estate Act FAQ (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs) (consulted 14 October 2026)
- Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority, home page (consulted 14 October 2026)
- Uttar Pradesh RERA, disclaimer and policies (consulted 14 October 2026)
- Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority, home page (consulted 14 October 2026)
- Haryana RERA, terms of use (consulted 14 October 2026)
- Goa Real Estate Regulatory Authority, home page (consulted 14 October 2026)