A flat can look ready, with the keys in your hand and the paint still fresh, and yet not be legal to live in. The document that makes occupation lawful is the Occupancy Certificate (OC), and the one that confirms the building was constructed as approved is the Completion Certificate (CC). Buyers often pay in full and move in without either, only to face trouble later with utilities, resale and even GST. For anyone purchasing in the Godrej Brooklyn Avenue belt in Kukatpally, where possession is scheduled for June 2031, understanding these certificates now helps you ask the right questions at handover. This guide explains both, as of 2026; verify the local procedure with the GHMC and the relevant authority.

What the Completion Certificate Confirms

The Completion Certificate is issued by the local authority to certify that a building has been completed in accordance with the approved plan, sanctioned height, setbacks and building byelaws. It is essentially a statement that the structure, as built, matches what was permitted. The developer applies for it once construction is finished, and the authority may inspect before issuing. The CC is about the building's compliance; it does not, on its own, certify that the building is fit for people to live in.

What the Occupancy Certificate Confirms

The Occupancy Certificate goes a step further. It certifies that the completed building is fit for occupation, with essential services such as water, sewerage, electricity and fire safety in place and functioning, and that the structure complies with safety norms. Legally, you should occupy a flat only after the OC is issued. Many municipal services and formal water and power connections are tied to the OC, and its absence can later complicate resale, since a careful buyer will ask for it.

Aspect	Completion Certificate (CC)	Occupancy Certificate (OC)
Certifies	Built as per approved plan	Fit for legal occupation
Focus	Structural and plan compliance	Safety, utilities, habitability
Issued by	Local municipal authority	Local municipal authority
When	After construction completes	After services and safety verified
Needed to move in?	Not sufficient alone	Yes - legal occupancy needs OC
Impact on GST	-	OC marks end of under-construction status

The GST Connection You Should Not Miss

There is a direct tax link to the OC. An under-construction property attracts GST at 5% (around 3.33% effective after the one-third land deduction) as of 2026, while a ready-to-move home that already has its OC attracts no GST on sale. Because Godrej Brooklyn Avenue is under construction, GST at 5% applies on instalments until the OC is obtained. In practice this means the timing of your purchase relative to the OC affects your total outgo, so it is worth understanding alongside the rest of your costs. Our stamp duty and charges guide and the cost sheet set out how taxes and charges stack on the base price.

Why No OC Is a Real Problem

• Legality: occupying without an OC is technically unauthorised and can attract penalties or notices.
• Utilities: formal, permanent water and power connections are often linked to the OC.
• Resale: an informed future buyer or their lender will ask for the OC, so its absence dents value.
• Home loan: some lenders require the OC for the final disbursement on ready properties.
• Society formation: handover to the residents' association is cleaner once the OC is in place.

What a Godrej Brooklyn Avenue Buyer Should Ask

Since this is a new launch with possession years out, you will not see an OC at booking; that is normal. What you should do is build the right checks into your agreement and handover process: confirm that the developer commits to obtaining the OC before handover, that possession is contingent on it, and that the project's approvals and RERA registration, Telangana RERA No. P02200010981, are in order. At the time of taking keys, ask specifically for a copy of the OC and, where applicable, the CC. A reputed developer like Godrej Properties will follow the statutory route, but the documents are yours to verify. See our step-by-step booking guide for where these checks fit in the journey.

Who Should Care Most

Every buyer should care, but the documents matter most to those taking possession of a ready or near-ready home, to NRIs relying on paperwork rather than site visits, and to anyone planning to resell within a few years. For an under-construction purchase, the discipline is to lock the OC requirement into the contract now and to insist on the certificate at handover. Treat the OC as the line between a flat that merely looks finished and a home you can legally and confidently occupy. Browse our wider price and charges section for related legal and cost guides.

Frequently Asked Questions