The Gujarat Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) has introduced stringent new rules to regulate builder advertisements, aiming to enhance transparency and protect homebuyers. Effective from June 15, these regulations mandate that all advertisements—whether print, electronic, or digital—must prominently display essential project details including the RERA registration number, QR codes linked to RERA certificates, and the official RERA website URL.
Previously, many builder advertisements were unclear or inconsistent in showing these crucial details. “There was no clarity on how and where to display the RERA number and website URL in advertisements. Therefore, details were mentioned anywhere, at any place and in any font size, defeating the purpose of helping interested buyers get project information easily,” explained a Gujarat RERA official. The new guidelines seek to remove this confusion by specifying the exact placement, size, and format for such information to ensure it is easily visible and accessible.
Under the updated rules, the RERA registration number, QR code, and website address must appear as prominently as the builder’s contact details—or even larger—across all advertising media. This includes newspapers, magazines, billboards, and other print materials. The QR code must be displayed in a dedicated “QR code block” with text large enough to be easily read. For print ads, this block is to be placed in the top right corner. In the case of multi-page advertisements, the same placement is required on the first page.
Social media and digital advertisements are subject to additional requirements. For image posts, the block containing RERA details must be shown at the end of the post, covering the entire screen for a minimum of three seconds. Video advertisements must display this information in the upper right corner for at least three seconds. These measures aim to ensure potential buyers on online platforms do not miss vital project information.
To aid compliance, Gujarat RERA has issued standardized templates for different media formats, helping builders conform to the new norms. Audio advertisements must also include spoken references to the RERA registration number to ensure full coverage across all channels.
The new guidelines extend beyond advertisements to encompass all buyer-facing documents such as brochures, booking forms, and allottee letters. These must also feature the RERA details in the upper right corner, using the prescribed formats.
A key reason behind adopting QR codes is to overcome practical challenges posed by increasingly long registration numbers, especially for projects covering multiple phases or details. QR codes provide a space-efficient way for buyers to instantly access complete and verified project information using smartphones, bridging the gap between offline and digital transparency.
The Gujarat RERA has issued stern warnings that any builder or promoter failing to adhere to these regulations will face strict legal consequences, including penalties and possible action for misleading advertisements. This crackdown signals a strong regulatory push to curb deceptive marketing practices and empower consumers with verified, easy-to-access project data.
In summary, Gujarat’s new RERA advertisement rules represent a major step forward in real estate consumer protection, promoting clarity and accountability in builder communications. By standardizing how crucial project details are presented, the authority aims to ensure that buyers make well-informed decisions backed by transparent, accessible information.
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