Taking possession of an apartment in Medavakkam is the moment a long purchase finally completes — and the moment small oversights become expensive. A disciplined handover check protects your money, your warranty rights and your peace of mind, whether you are buying a ready flat or accepting handover of a newly completed gated unit in South Chennai.

This checklist walks through what to verify before you sign the possession letter and pay the last instalment: the occupancy certificate, the snag list, final dues, registration and the defect-liability protection you get under RERA. We use a RERA-registered branded project such as Prestige Medavakkam as a reference point for how a clean handover should look.

Possession & Handover Checklist — At a Glance

The table summarises the key handover checks, what to verify for each, and the document or evidence to ask for.

Before You Accept: OC, CC and the Snag List

Never take possession of a flat without a valid Occupancy Certificate. The OC confirms the building has been completed per the approved plan and is legally fit to live in; moving in without it can create problems with utilities, resale and loans. Alongside it, ask for the completion certificate and check that the unit you are accepting matches the approved layout and the carpet area in your agreement.

Then do a thorough snagging inspection. Walk the flat and test doors, windows, taps, drainage, electrical points, the distribution board, waterproofing in bathrooms and balconies, and the quality of finishes against what was promised. List every defect in writing, get the developer to acknowledge it, and agree a timeline to fix snags before or shortly after handover.

Bottom line: No OC, no possession — and never sign off without a written, acknowledged snag list.

Money: Final Dues, Registration and Stamp Duty

Reconcile the final demand against your agreement so you are not surprised by extra charges — floor-rise, parking, club, legal or maintenance deposits should all match what you signed for. Get receipts for every payment. Registration of the sale deed legally transfers ownership to you, and stamp duty and registration charges are payable as applicable in Tamil Nadu; confirm the current rates with the sub-registrar or your lawyer, as they can change and vary by transaction.

If you are funding the purchase with a loan, coordinate the final disbursement with registration. For how loans and EMIs are structured around a purchase, our home loan & EMI guide explains the mechanics with illustrative figures.

Bottom line: Match every charge to your agreement, keep receipts, and register the sale deed properly.

Your RERA Protection at Handover

Under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, a buyer is protected by a defect-liability period: if structural defects or issues in workmanship, quality or services are reported within five years of possession, the promoter is required to rectify them at no extra cost, typically within thirty days. Possession should be given in line with the timeline committed in the registered agreement, and the project's status can be checked on the TN-RERA portal. Keep your agreement, snag list and possession letter safe, as they are your evidence if you need to invoke this protection.

Bottom line: RERA's defect-liability cover is real protection — document everything so you can use it.

After Possession: Records, Utilities and the Society

Once you have the keys, transfer the municipal records into your name — patta/khata and property tax — and get the electricity and water connections, meters and any gas line transferred or activated. Confirm how common areas, the corpus or sinking fund, and amenities are handed to the owners' association, and collect the possession letter, warranties for fittings and appliances, and as-built or layout documents. For the wider connectivity picture that affects long-term value, see the location map, the upcoming Chennai Metro network and area background on Medavakkam.

Bottom line: Finish the paperwork — records, meters and society handover — before you settle in.

Conclusion

A careful possession and handover in Medavakkam for 2026 comes down to discipline: insist on the occupancy certificate, complete a written snag list, reconcile your final dues, register the sale deed, and document everything so your RERA defect-liability protection is usable. Buying a registered project from an established developer such as Prestige Medavakkam makes that process cleaner.

Confirm current charges and procedures with the developer, TN-RERA and the sub-registrar, and do not move in or pay in full until the checks are done. To discuss a branded home with a clear handover process in this locality, book a site visit.