Bhubaneswar: Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA) has directed real estate promoters to upload updated occupancy certificates (OC) and completion certificates (CC) on its portal within 30 days, failing which they could face penalties, restrictions on property registrations and even freezing of project bank accounts.Cracking down on post-registration non-compliance, the authority has found that several real estate projects continue to remain without updated OC/CC records on ORERA portal despite expiry of their registration period. In many cases, the certificates have either not been uploaded before the authority or have not been made available to homebuyers and residents’ associations as mandated under the law.In a direction on Sept 7, ORERA made it clear that promoters can no longer treat the submission of OC and CC as a routine formality. “Timely obtaining and making available the completion certificate/occupancy certificate is an important statutory obligation of the promoter,” the authority said, stressing that the requirement is essential for transparency and protection of allottees’ interests.Under the new direction, promoters who have already obtained the OC or CC must upload the documents on ORERA portal within 30 days. Those who are still awaiting approval from the competent authority have been asked to upload proof that they have applied for the certificate, along with acknowledgement receipts and evidence of fee payment.The authority has also directed developers to actively pursue pending applications and upload the certificates immediately after they are issued. The order states that non-compliance could lead to freezing or restriction of project bank accounts maintained under RERA provisions, curbs on registration of agreements for sale and conveyance deeds, and imposition of penalties or other actions under the Rera Act and Rules.The authority has clarified that the restrictions may be lifted once the promoter submits the OC or furnishes evidence of having applied for it before the competent authority and complies with other requirements, including payment of penalties. The direction has come into force with immediate effect, signalling a tougher regulatory stance towards developers who fail to complete statutory obligations.Experts said that the move is expected to impact developers whose projects have run out of registration validity but are yet to complete the compliance process required for closure of projects. “Possession of an OC is critical as it certifies that a project is fit for occupation and has secured necessary approvals from competent authorities. In Odisha, it has long been ignored until recently,” real estate expert Bimalendu Pradhan said.
