Quick answer: Before you take the keys to a new flat in Hyderabad, check that the builder has the occupancy certificate (OC), walk the flat with a snag list, make sure your sale deed is registered and the final loan instalment is released correctly, and then move the property tax, electricity and water into your name. Under RERA you get five years to report structural and workmanship defects, and the builder must fix them within 30 days at no cost.
By Vijay Arjun V (B.Pharm, PGDM), authorised LIC HFL DSA since 2002. Updated 9 October 2026.
Step 1: Is the occupancy certificate in place?
The OC is issued by GHMC, HMDA or the local municipality once the building matches the sanctioned plan. Ask for a copy before you accept possession. Without it, water and electricity connections and property tax assessment get harder, and resale and loans on the flat get harder too. Under RERA, you are expected to take possession within two months of the OC being issued. More on documents in home loan property documents in Telangana.
Step 2: Walk the flat with a snag list
Visit in daylight with the agreement, the floor plan and the brochure. Note every defect in writing and get the builder to sign it.
- Walls and ceilings: cracks, damp patches, uneven plaster, paint finish.
- Flooring and tiles: hollow sound when tapped, chipped or uneven tiles, slope towards bathroom drains.
- Plumbing: run every tap and shower, flush every toilet, check for leaks under sinks and seepage on the walls behind bathrooms.
- Electrical: test every switch and socket, the MCB board and earthing; check points match the plan.
- Doors and windows: locks, hinges, alignment, glass, grills, gaps where rain can enter.
- Area: measure the carpet area against the agreement. RERA requires sale by carpet area.
- Common areas: lifts, fire safety, power backup, parking allotment, water supply and STP working.
Step 3: Sort out the loan and the final payment
- For an under-construction flat, the builder raises the last demand at possession. Send it to us; LIC HFL releases the final instalment after checking the stage of work.
- Once the loan is fully released, your pre-EMI ends and the full EMI starts. Check the first full EMI date and amount.
- If your sale deed is not yet registered, it must be registered before or at possession. LIC HFL keeps the original registered deed until the loan is closed; keep certified copies for yourself.
- Pay the builder only by bank transfer or cheque and collect receipts for every payment, including maintenance deposit, corpus fund and parking.
- Keep the property insured; LIC HFL may ask for proof.
See under-construction vs ready-to-move for how stage-wise release and pre-EMI work.
Step 4: Collect your documents from the builder
- Possession letter with the date
- Occupancy certificate copy
- Registered sale deed (certified copy, if LIC HFL holds the original)
- Approved building plan and the flat’s floor plan
- Receipts for all payments, including GST
- No-dues letter from the builder
- Warranty cards for lifts, pumps, fittings and appliances supplied
- Maintenance agreement and the association’s contact details
Step 5: Put property tax, power and water in your name
| What | Where | What to keep ready |
|---|---|---|
| Property tax (PTIN) and mutation | GHMC online services, or your municipality outside GHMC | Sale deed, OC, building permission number, plinth area |
| Electricity name change | TGSPDCL (southern Telangana, including Hyderabad) | Consumer number, sale deed copy, latest bill receipt, ID |
| Water connection | HMWSSB (Hyderabad Water Board), if not a common connection | Sale deed, OC, property tax receipt |
| Piped gas | The local city gas provider, if available | Sale deed or possession letter, ID |
For new apartments, check that your flat gets its own PTIN and is not still under a single number for the whole building. The mutation fee is collected with registration in GHMC areas, but confirm the tax record actually shows your name. Property tax paid in full by 30 April usually earns a rebate.
Step 6: Know your rights after possession
- Defect liability: under section 14(3) of the RERA Act, structural defects and defects in workmanship, quality or services reported within five years of possession must be fixed by the builder within 30 days, free of charge.
- Association: the builder must help form the owners’ association and hand over common areas and their documents to it.
- Complaints: if the builder does not respond, you can file a complaint with TG RERA. See how to check a project on Telangana RERA.
Step 7: Update LIC HFL and claim your tax benefit
Tell us your new address so LIC HFL letters reach you. From the year of possession, you can start claiming interest, including pre-construction interest in five parts, under the old tax regime. See home loan tax benefits 2026. And keep prepaying when you can: LIC HFL charges nothing for prepaying a floating-rate home loan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I refuse possession if there are defects?
You can record the defects in writing and ask for them to be fixed first. Refusing a flat that has an OC can lead to holding charges under your agreement, so take possession with a signed snag list and use your five-year defect right.
When does my full EMI start?
From the month after LIC HFL releases the last instalment. Until then you pay only pre-EMI interest on the amount released.
Do I need to pay maintenance before moving in?
Usually yes, from the date of possession or the date mentioned in your agreement, whether or not you move in.
Sources: Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, sections 14(3), 17 and 19(10); GHMC property tax self-assessment and TGSPDCL service guides as published; LIC HFL practice in our experience. Fees and procedures may change; confirm with the department concerned.
Hyderabad Home Loans is run by Elite Financial Services, an authorised Direct Selling Agent (DSA) of LIC Housing Finance Ltd. We are not LIC HFL. Loans are sanctioned solely at LIC HFL’s discretion; rates and fees may change.