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Housing Schemes

Tamil Nadu Housing Board Allotment: From Application to Sale Deed

TNHB allots flats and plots by online lottery or FCFS. Winners are listed the day after the draw, pay 10% upfront and get the deed after full payment.

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Written by Ananya Iyer

Published 3 November 2026·7 min read

On this page9 sections
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The Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) now sells flats, houses and plots online, either by lottery or first come, first served (FCFS). Lottery winners appear on an allotment list published on the TNHB portal the working day after the draw. You pay 10% of the price at booking, the rest within 90 days or in instalments, and TNHB executes the sale deed only after full payment and handover.

Key facts

Item Rule
Who can apply A native of Tamil Nadu, aged 21 or above, who has never bought a TNHB plot, house or flat in their own, spouse’s or minor child’s name
Where tnhb.tn.gov.in and propertysales.tnhb.tn.gov.in, online only
Sale methods Online lottery, or online FCFS for leftover and unreserved units
Allotment list Minutes listing winners and waiting-list names, published on the portal the next working day after the draw
Waiting list Up to 30% of the units of each type
Initial payment 10% of the unit cost, paid online within 15 minutes of choosing a unit (20 minutes under FCFS)
Balance 90% within 90 days (outright purchase) or by instalments (self-financing scheme)
Sale deed registration With the Sub-Registrar within 120 days of execution
Helpline 1800-599-6060 (toll-free); WhatsApp 9566289561

These rules come from TNHB’s procedure documents issued under G.O. (Ms) No. 75 of 22 May 2025 and Board Resolution No. 7.05 of 2 June 2025. Each scheme advertisement adds its own prices, unit counts and dates.

TNHB schemes and income categories

TNHB sells units under two payment structures:

  • Outright Purchase Scheme (OPS): plots, flats and houses paid for in full within 90 days.
  • Self Financing Scheme (SFS): flats and houses paid for in instalments while they are built.

Units are grouped by monthly income:

Category Monthly income
EWS Up to ₹25,000
LIG ₹25,001 to ₹50,000
MIG ₹50,001 to ₹70,000
HIG Above ₹70,000

A higher-income applicant may ask for a lower-category unit, except an EWS unit. You can file one application per category in a scheme.

Reserved quotas

Lottery allotment follows G.O. (Ms) No. 2 of 2 January 2013. The main shares are 18% for Scheduled Castes, 1% for Scheduled Tribes, 18% for State Government servants, 8% for Central Government and TNEB or local body staff, 7% for defence personnel, 4% for dhobis and barbers, 3% for working journalists, 2% for TNHB employees, 1% for language crusaders and 38% for the general public. Within these, 3% goes to differently abled persons on priority.

How to apply

TNHB advertises each scheme in at least one Tamil and one English newspaper and on its website. Login creation opens from the 5th day after the advertisement, and the application window runs for at least 30 days.

  1. Open tnhb.tn.gov.in and click Apply Now against the scheme and unit type you want.
  2. On the LOT-Customer login page, register with your PAN and other details, then log in.
  3. Fill in the form and upload your photo, age proof, nativity certificate, income certificate, Aadhaar, signature, and any reservation or community certificate.
  4. Review the details and pay the application amount by net banking, debit card or IMPS from your registered account.
  5. Submit the application and note the application number.

A joint application is allowed with a spouse, parent, son or daughter. The nativity certificate comes from the Tahsildar. Salaried applicants get the income certificate from their employer; others from an officer not below Tahsildar rank.

TNHB does not check eligibility when it accepts an application. If you are later found ineligible, the allotment is refused. False documents lead to cancellation and forfeiture of the initial payment.

Allotment list and the draw

  1. TNHB scrutinises applications within 30 days of closing and sends accepted or rejected status by SMS.
  2. The portal publishes an agenda of eligible applications before the draw.
  3. You get an SMS with the date and venue; the draw is public and starts at 10:30 AM on the portal.
  4. The software picks winners at random, category by category, priority applicants first, then fills the waiting list.
  5. The minutes listing winners and waiting-list applicants go up on the portal the next working day.

To check your result, use Application Status on tnhb.tn.gov.in with your application number and a mobile OTP. Winners also get an email and SMS with the booking date.

If you win in more than one scheme, you keep only one unit. Units left unbooked by winners pass to the waiting list, who get 30 days from intimation to pay.

Booking and payment schedule

Winners get at least 30 days to book. Once you pick a unit, you have 15 minutes to pay the initial 10% in a single online transaction; under FCFS schemes the window is 20 minutes.

Scheme Initial Balance
Outright Purchase (plots, flats, houses) 10% online 90% within 90 days, in part or full, plus GST and taxes as applicable
Self Financing (flats, houses) 10% online 90% in instalments as per the payment schedule, plus GST and taxes as applicable

If you join a self-financing scheme after the initial allotment date, you must clear all past instalments with interest within 60 days. The allotment order is issued within 3 working days of verification. You can pay dues by an e-Challan from Allottee Login; each challan carries a virtual account number and is valid for 48 hours. To plan a loan, use the EMI calculator.

Defaults and refunds

  • OPS: if you miss the 90-day deadline, TNHB sends a 15-day notice, then may cancel.
  • SFS: after a missed instalment, three notices give you 30 days to pay before cancellation.
  • On cancellation, a winner’s failure to book, or rejection as ineligible, TNHB refunds your money after deducting 0.5% of the initial payment or ₹10,000, whichever is higher.

Lease-cum-sale agreement, sale deed and patta

  1. TNHB uploads a lease-cum-sale agreement within 3 days of the allotment order. Download it, affix a ₹200 special adhesive stamp, sign and upload it within 15 days.
  2. For a home loan, upload an in-principle sanction letter to get the A and B certificates that lenders ask for.
  3. After 100% payment and project completion, a handing-over order is issued within 7 days, and possession follows within 7 days of it.
  4. TNHB generates the draft sale deed within 7 days of handover. Pay the scrutiny fee, download the draft and upload the lender’s NOC if you took a loan.
  5. Book a slot on the portal to execute the deed with the Executive Engineer, who checks your original documents.
  6. Register the deed with the Sub-Registrar within 120 days.

Registration costs stamp duty and fees; see stamp duty and registration charges by state. After registration, apply for patta transfer. Tamil Nadu processes patta transfers only online, through an e-Sevai centre or the state portals.

Pending sale deeds in old schemes

Many older allottees paid years ago but never got a sale deed. The housing department’s 2025-26 policy note says 24,876 sale deeds were pending in April 2021. Special camps in every district cleared 19,326 of them over four years. The rest are being handled by collecting dues and checking documents such as legal heir certificates.

Two other problems recur:

  • Land acquisition gaps. In some older layouts, acquisition was never completed. A special committee under the Commissioner of Land Administration was set up in October 2023 to deal with these cases.
  • Extra demands at deed stage. On 25 February 2026 the Madras High Court directed TNHB to execute a sale deed without demanding an extra 5% GST from an allottee who had paid the advertised GST-inclusive price, subject to pending appeals.

If your deed is stuck, get a statement of dues from your TNHB division, clear any balance, and carry the allotment order, payment receipts and legal heir papers if the allottee has died. For a disputed demand, a property lawyer can advise on your case. Our government housing schemes hub covers other state and central schemes, and the MHADA lottery guide explains Maharashtra’s process.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check the TNHB allotment list?

The winners’ and waiting-list minutes are published on the TNHB portal the working day after the draw. You can also enter your application number under Application Status and verify with an OTP.

Can people from other states apply to TNHB?

No. The applicant must be a native of Tamil Nadu and upload a nativity certificate from the Tahsildar.

What is the income limit for a TNHB LIG flat?

LIG covers monthly income of ₹25,001 to ₹50,000. EWS is up to ₹25,000, MIG ₹50,001 to ₹70,000, and HIG above ₹70,000.

How much do I pay after winning the lottery?

You pay 10% of the unit cost online when you book. The balance 90% is due within 90 days under outright purchase, or in instalments under a self-financing scheme.

What happens if I do not book after winning?

TNHB rejects your claim and refunds your payment after deducting 0.5% of the initial payment or ₹10,000, whichever is higher. The unit goes to the waiting list.

When will I get the sale deed?

After full payment and handover. TNHB generates the draft within 7 days of handover, you book a date to execute it, then register it with the Sub-Registrar within 120 days.

Sources

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