Goa RERA Tightens Rules on Real Estate Ads, Bans Disclaimers: What It Means For Homebuyers

The Goa Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) has issued fresh directives aimed at tightening how real estate projects are marketed in the state. Developers and brokers have now been prohibited from inserting disclaimers such as "terms and conditions apply" in advertisements for residential and commercial projects.

In its latest circular, RERA underscored that the practice of using ambiguous or exaggerated claims in brochures and media campaigns will no longer be tolerated. The regulator has also cautioned that vague references to amenities for instance, highlighting "11+ facilities" without specific details will be treated as misleading, as per a report by ET Realty.

"Developers must ensure that amenities, as promised in agreements or project brochures, are clearly specified in advertisements. Any vague mention of facilities without clarity will be considered prima facie misleading," said Paresh Faldesai, secretary of Goa RERA, in the notification, as quoted by ET Realty.

What Must Builders Now Include in Advertisements?

RERA's circular makes it mandatory for every real estate advertisement to display the Goa RERA registration number, placed at the top right corner of the material. This applies not only to print and broadcast campaigns but also to online property portals that list projects and plots for sale, the report added.

The regulator has also drawn strict boundaries around how location advantages can be presented. Builders can no longer make claims about travel time to hospitals, schools, airports, or railway stations, since commuting time depends on traffic conditions. Instead, only the location as specified in the approved project plan can be mentioned, as per the report.

How Will This Impact Homebuyers in Goa?

For house buyers, the new rules will bring some transparency into an often-opaque market. Through open disclosure of facilities and mandatory registration levels, potential consumers will have less chance of being deceived by sales tactics.

Developers are forced to begin again from scratch with marketing materials as a result of the change. In large part, developers have relied upon generic, aspirational ads to entice buyers, with a focus on lifestyle photography instead of specific information about projects.

With RERA's increasing hold, they would now have to depend on factual representations supported by the registration certificate.

The new rules have been informed to the Goa Association of Realtors and the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI). Industry analysts are of the view that compliance will be difficult at first, but the change may ultimately lend credibility to the market.