Lakhs of Delhi homes, from DDA Janta and MIG flats in Dwarka and Rohini to cooperative society flats in Patparganj and built-up plots in DDA colonies, are still held on leasehold. Converting them to freehold through a conveyance deed makes them easier to sell, mortgage and pass on. But in 2026 the process stalled: DDA's online portal has been down since January, pending applications were put on hold during a policy review, and the Delhi High Court has stepped in, ordering DDA to clear old applications under the old policy. This guide explains what leasehold and freehold mean, who is eligible under the conversion scheme, how charges, GPA surcharges, ground rent and instalments work, the documents and steps involved, what the High Court has ordered in Mala Sahni Seth and connected cases, and what owners, buyers and heirs should do while the new policy is awaited. Share your situation in the form and an enrolment-checked advocate can call you, at no charge to you.
Freehold conversion lets the holder of an eligible DDA leasehold property, such as a DDA flat, a cooperative society flat on DDA land or a residential built-up plot, pay one-time conversion charges and receive a conveyance deed, after which the property is freehold and free of lease conditions and ground rent. As of October 2026, DDA\'s IDLI conversion portal has been non-functional since 2 January 2026 and the conversion policy is under review, so fresh applications cannot be processed. In DDA v. Mala Sahni Seth, the Delhi High Court has directed DDA to process the 1,373 pending applications, for which about Rs 155 crore was collected, within two months and under the policy in force when each was filed, and has asked the Housing Ministry and DDA to place a policy for fresh applications before it by the next hearing on 11 December 2026. Pending applicants should keep their receipts and follow up in writing; new applicants should prepare documents now so they can apply as soon as the portal reopens.
When the Delhi Development Authority developed housing from the 1960s onwards, it usually did not sell land outright. It gave flats and plots on a perpetual lease, in the name of the President of India, on payment of a premium and a small annual ground rent. The buyer got a long-term right to live in, use and transfer the property, but subject to the conditions in the lease or allotment: permissions for transfer, restrictions on use, and the lessor's right of re-entry if the conditions were breached. Cooperative group housing societies were similarly given land on lease, and their members hold flats as sub-lessees.
A freehold property, by contrast, is owned outright. Once a conveyance deed is executed and registered, the lease conditions fall away, ground rent stops, the lessor's right of re-entry disappears, and the owner can sell, gift, mortgage or bequeath without needing DDA's permission, subject to general law and the Master Plan. That is why freehold properties in Delhi usually command better prices, are easier to finance, and cause fewer complications for heirs.
In 1992, the Government introduced a scheme allowing holders of eligible residential leasehold properties to convert them to freehold by paying one-time conversion charges. The scheme has been revised over the years, and DDA has issued a detailed brochure on it. The Land and Development Office (L&DO) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs runs a similar scheme for properties it administers, mainly in older central Delhi colonies and rehabilitation colonies. This guide focuses on DDA properties, but most of the principles apply to L&DO conversions too.
| Point | Leasehold (DDA) | Freehold |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of right | Lease from the President of India through DDA, or sub-lease through a society | Ownership |
| Ground rent | Payable annually as per lease | Not payable |
| Transfer | Subject to lease conditions and DDA's mutation or substitution process | By registered sale, gift or other deed under general law |
| Breach of conditions | Risk of penalties or re-entry by the lessor | No lessor; only general law and building or Master Plan rules |
| Bank loans | Possible, but some lenders prefer freehold and require DDA NOC for mortgage | Generally easier |
| Inheritance | Heirs must get substitution or mutation done with DDA | Heirs follow succession law and municipal mutation |
| Market value | Often lower than comparable freehold | Usually higher |
For many years, conversion applications for DDA properties were filed online and processed by DDA's lands and housing wings. In 2026, the process came to a halt.
The freeze affects people in very practical ways: sellers whose buyers insist on freehold, families who need a freehold title to divide inheritance, borrowers whose banks require it, and applicants who paid lakhs of rupees years ago and are still waiting.
The issue reached the Delhi High Court through a batch of cases led by Delhi Development Authority v. Mala Sahni Seth, including a DDA appeal in a contempt matter and writ petitions by owners whose conversion applications were stuck. A Division Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Vikas Mahajan has heard the batch.
On 3 July 2026, the Court took judicial notice of the portal's failure, which was affecting cooperative society flat owners among others, and called for a status report. On 31 July, it recorded the number of pending applications and the amount collected, and directed a meeting of the Secretary of the Department of Capital Development in MoHUA, DDA and other authorities.
Reviewing the 14 August minutes, the Court found no clarity on any policy regarding documentation or conversion charges, and noted that counsel could not even explain the mechanism by which leasehold properties were currently being transferred. In its order reported on 10 September 2026 (2026:DHC:7651-DB), the Court held that any new policy must operate prospectively, and that applications where charges had already been paid must be processed under the policy in force when they were filed. It relied on its earlier decision in Neera Sharma v. DDA, where it had held that DDA could not demand higher rates from applicants who had deposited charges with their applications merely because the rates changed before permission was granted. The Court gave MoHUA, DDA and L&DO a "last and final opportunity" to place a final policy on record.
When MoHUA's affidavit showed no concrete timeline, the Court, in an order reported on 30 September and 3 October 2026 (2026:DHC:8534-DB), directed DDA to process all pending conversion applications within two months, in terms of the policy prevalent on the date each application was filed, calling the authorities' request for two to four more months "completely unacceptable". It directed MoHUA and DDA to formulate a policy for fresh applications and place it before the Court by the next date, and required the Secretary and the DDA Vice-Chairman to attend. The matter was listed for 11 December 2026.
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| 2 January 2026 | IDLI conversion portal stops working (as recorded by the High Court) |
| 3 July 2026 | High Court takes judicial notice, calls for status report |
| 31 July 2026 | 1,373 pending applications and Rs 155.06 crore recorded; meeting directed |
| 11 August 2026 | Rajya Sabha reply: conversion requests on hold pending policy review |
| 14 August 2026 | MoHUA, DDA, L&DO meeting; no final decision |
| September 2026 | Court: new policy only prospective; old applications under old policy; final opportunity |
| Late September 2026 | Court: process pending applications within two months; policy for fresh applications by next date |
| 11 December 2026 | Next listing |
Mara Vakil has covered the September order in a news report. Because the matter is ongoing, check for the latest orders before relying on any of these dates.
Under DDA's conversion brochure, the scheme is optional and covers residential properties. The main categories are:
As reported from the Rajya Sabha reply, very small plots of up to 50 square metres are excluded from the scheme as it stood.
| Bar | What it means |
|---|---|
| Title dispute | Conversion is not allowed while there is an unresolved dispute over title, for example between heirs or competing buyers. |
| Re-entry pending | If DDA has started or ordered re-entry for breach of lease conditions, conversion is barred until that is resolved. |
| Mutation or substitution pending | If the applicant's own mutation or substitution is pending with DDA, it must normally be completed first. |
| Non-residential land use | The scheme is for residential use; commercial and industrial properties have separate rules. |
| Mortgage without NOC | No-objection certificates are needed from every mortgagee bank. |
| Hire-purchase dues | Flats on hire purchase qualify only after all instalments and interest are paid. |
| Ground rent arrears | Arrears must be cleared, with interest at 10 per cent under the brochure, before conversion. |
| Society formalities incomplete | For cooperative society flats, the completion certificate or D-form and handing over of possession to members are required. |
Applicants give an undertaking to stop any non-residential use that violates the Master Plan of Delhi on notice. Conversion does not regularise unauthorised construction or misuse; those remain subject to municipal and DDA rules even after the property becomes freehold.
Conversion charges are one-time payments fixed by the Government and published in annexures to DDA's brochure, varying by locality and zone, and by type and size of property.
Under the brochure, charges could be paid in one lump sum or in up to five equated annual instalments with simple interest at 12 per cent a year, the first instalment being paid with the application. No extension of instalment dates is given, ground rent continues to accrue until the final instalment, and conversion is completed only after all instalments are paid.
Very likely, for future applications. The August 2026 meeting noted that conversion charges had not been revised for a long time, and the High Court observed that any revision must balance public revenue and fairness to applicants. Its orders, however, protect those who have already applied and paid: their applications must be processed at the rates and under the policy prevailing when they applied. Anyone planning to apply under the new policy should budget for the possibility of higher charges.
Once conversion is approved, the conveyance deed must be stamped and registered, and the beneficiary bears the stamp duty and registration charges. Where a lease or conveyance deed had never been executed earlier, stamp duty may also be payable on the conversion charges, any surcharge and the price or premium, under the brochure. Factor in notary charges for affidavits and indemnity bonds, and professional fees if you use an advocate.
A large share of DDA flats and plots in Delhi have changed hands not by registered sale deed but through general power of attorney, agreement to sell, will and receipt, often several times over. The conversion scheme has always accommodated such holders, at a price.
The Supreme Court held in Suraj Lamp and Industries v. State of Haryana (2011) that GPA and agreement-to-sell transactions do not transfer title, but it noted that genuine transactions could be regularised by executing registered deeds. The conversion scheme is one route by which a GPA holder can end up with a registered conveyance deed from DDA in his own name, which is why it matters so much to Delhi's property market. Our guide to illegal possession and property disputes explains the legal status of GPA holders in disputes.
Where the original allottee has died, the heirs usually need to have the property substituted or mutated in their names with DDA, on the basis of a will, probate, succession certificate or relinquishment deeds among heirs, before conversion. If heirs disagree, the title dispute bar applies. Mara Vakil offers services for legal heir certificates and succession certificates that help in these cases.
The 2026 discussions contemplate pruning the document list and moving to online verification, so the final list under the new policy may be shorter. Under the existing brochure, applicants typically provide:
Getting these ready now, while the portal is down, means you can apply quickly once it reopens. Old allotment papers are often faded or missing; certified copies can be requested from DDA, and a property verification check can help confirm the chain of documents.
This is the process as it worked under the existing scheme. The new policy may change the details, especially if verification moves fully online.
Keep your application number, payment receipts and every letter or email from DDA. When the portal works, status can be tracked online. DDA has also held public hearing days for grievances. If the conveyance deed is not received within the expected time, the brochure contemplates approaching the nodal officer. During the 2026 freeze, written follow-ups and, where necessary, legal action have been the main routes.
The conveyance deed is the document that actually transfers ownership from the lessor to you. Until it is executed and registered, the property remains leasehold, even if DDA has approved the conversion. That is why the High Court's note that 308 applications had been approved but conveyance deeds not executed matters so much: approval alone does not give the owner freehold title.
Once the conveyance deed is registered, you can sell by a registered sale deed, gift by a registered gift deed, mortgage without DDA's NOC, and pass the property by will or succession like any other freehold property. Keep the registered conveyance deed safely; it becomes the root document of your title.
Write to DDA asking for the conveyance deed to be issued and executed, attaching the approval. Make sure stamp duty and registration funds are ready so the final step does not stall on your side.
The August 2026 minutes said the hold does not prevent transfer, gift, inheritance or mortgage of leasehold properties under the established procedure, but the High Court found that procedure had not been properly explained. Buyers should check carefully whether the seller holds a registered lease or only GPA papers, whether ground rent and other dues are clear, whether any conversion application is pending and in whose name, and what DDA's current requirements for mutation or substitution are. Agreements should address who will apply for conversion, who bears the charges, and what happens if the policy changes. A property verification before paying any advance is strongly advisable.
Settle the succession first: will and probate if any, or a succession certificate or relinquishment deeds among heirs. Then apply to DDA for substitution or mutation, and plan conversion once the new policy is in place. Disagreement among heirs bars conversion, so try to resolve it early, if necessary through a partition or declaration suit.
| Problem | Usual approach |
|---|---|
| Application pending for years | Written follow-ups, grievance, then a writ petition in the High Court seeking a time-bound decision |
| DDA demands higher charges than when you applied | Rely on Neera Sharma and the 2026 orders; challenge in writ if needed |
| Missing original lease or allotment papers | Certified copies from DDA; public notice and affidavit for lost lease deed |
| Broken GPA chain | Trace and attest earlier documents; affidavits from earlier holders; legal advice on rectification |
| Ground rent arrears or misuse notices | Pay arrears with interest; stop misuse; contest wrongful demands |
| Society has not obtained completion certificate | Pressure the society; complaint to the Registrar of Cooperative Societies; legal action against the society if needed |
| Heirs disagree | Family settlement or relinquishment; otherwise a civil suit to settle title before conversion |
| Bank will not lend on leasehold | Ask about DDA mortgage permission; consider lenders who accept leasehold; convert when possible |
| Rejection of application | Seek reasons in writing; cure defects and reapply, or challenge an arbitrary rejection |
DDA is a statutory authority, so its arbitrary actions or inaction can be challenged by a writ petition under Article 226 before the Delhi High Court. Courts generally do not decide conversion charges or policy themselves, but they can direct DDA to decide applications within a time limit, apply the correct policy, give reasons, and refund amounts wrongly collected. The 2026 batch shows how the Court can push the authorities to act when many citizens are affected.
The Land and Development Office administers leases of many properties in New Delhi and older colonies, including rehabilitation colonies settled after Partition. It has its own conversion scheme and online system. L&DO took part in the August 2026 meeting and was included in the High Court's direction to place a final policy on record, so owners of L&DO properties face similar uncertainty. The principles on documents, title and conveyance deeds are broadly similar.
The residential conversion scheme does not cover commercial or industrial leasehold properties. Separate schemes have existed for conversion of commercial and industrial properties, with different charges and conditions. Owners of shops, offices and industrial plots on DDA leases should check the specific scheme applicable and take advice before transacting.
Properties in unauthorised colonies are not DDA leasehold properties in the usual sense. Rights there are recognised through conveyance deeds or authorisation slips under the PM-UDAY scheme and the 2019 Act for unauthorised colonies, which is a separate process from DDA freehold conversion.
These composite examples are for illustration only.
A retired couple applied for conversion of their MIG flat in 2025, paid the full charges, and uploaded all documents. Nothing moved after the portal went down. After the High Court's late-September order, their advocate writes to DDA quoting the application number and the direction to process pending applications within two months under the policy in force on the date of filing. When DDA asks for an extra document under a proposed new checklist, the advocate points out that the application must be processed under the old policy. The couple keep stamp duty funds ready for the conveyance deed.
A buyer purchased a DDA flat in 2004 on GPA, agreement to sell and will from the original allottee's son, who had himself bought on GPA. He wants to sell but buyers insist on freehold. He collects attested copies of both GPAs, both agreements and possession documents to establish the chain back to the original allottee, and calculates the charges with the 33⅓ per cent surcharge. Because fresh applications await the new policy, he and his buyer sign an agreement that sets out who will apply for conversion and how any increase in charges will be shared.
A member's cooperative society flat cannot be converted because the society never obtained the completion certificate. Members collectively press the managing committee and complain to the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, while preparing their individual documents so that applications can go in once the society's formalities and the new policy are in place.
Three siblings inherit a built-up plot from their father, who died without a will. One sibling wants to sell immediately; another wants to keep a floor. Conversion is barred while title is disputed. With an advocate's help, they sign a family settlement and registered relinquishment deeds so that one sibling becomes the substitute lessee, after which substitution and conversion can follow.
Many owners handle straightforward conversions themselves. An advocate is worth engaging when:
Look for an advocate experienced in DDA and land matters, familiar with the conversion brochure and its annexures, and with writ practice before the Delhi High Court. Ask about fees clearly at the start.
Use the form on this page to describe your property and its status, and verified Delhi property advocates can contact you. Mara Vakil takes nothing from you for the introduction or the first conversation; fees for any work are agreed directly with the advocate. Documents the platform drafts, such as a power of attorney, gift deed, will or legal notice, carry a fee. You can also browse property lawyers in Delhi or read how to choose an advocate.
Many owners will have to live with leasehold status for some time yet. Understanding how a leasehold DDA property changes hands helps avoid mistakes that later block conversion.
When a leasehold DDA property is sold, the buyer applies to DDA to have the property mutated in his name, on the basis of the registered sale document and the lease conditions. Where the lease requires the lessor's permission for transfer, that permission, or compliance with whatever replaced it, is part of the process. A buyer who skips mutation can face difficulties later, because DDA's records still show the old lessee, and conversion requires the applicant's own title to be in order.
When a lessee dies, the legal heirs apply for substitution. DDA usually requires a death certificate, proof of the heirs' relationship, a registered will or probate where a will exists, or a succession certificate or affidavits and relinquishment deeds from all heirs where there is no will, along with indemnity bonds and a public notice in some cases. If one heir is to hold the property, the others usually execute registered relinquishment deeds in that heir's favour.
A leasehold property can be gifted within the family by a registered gift deed, followed by mutation with DDA. Mara Vakil's gift deed service can prepare the deed. Stamp duty in Delhi for gifts depends on the relationship and the value, and should be checked before execution.
Conversion is granted to the person shown as lessee, sub-lessee or allottee in DDA's records, or to a GPA holder who can prove an unbroken chain from that person. Every unregistered transfer, unrecorded death and missing document adds a step, and sometimes a dispute, before conversion. Putting the records in order now is the single most useful thing a leasehold owner can do while waiting for the new policy.
Resale DDA flats in areas such as Dwarka, Rohini, Vasant Kunj, Mayur Vihar, Paschim Vihar and Sarita Vihar remain in demand. With conversion frozen, buyers need to be more careful than usual.
A professional title search, such as Mara Vakil's property verification, and a public notice inviting objections before completion reduce the risk considerably.
Most major banks in Delhi lend against leasehold DDA flats, but practices vary. Some require DDA's permission to mortgage, some insist on a clear record of mutation in the borrower's name, and some offer better terms for freehold property. During the freeze, borrowers whose loan approval depends on conversion should talk to the bank early about alternatives. Where a property is already mortgaged and the owner wants to convert, the bank's NOC is needed, and the bank's charge continues on the freehold property after conversion. Keep the bank informed when the conveyance deed is registered so that its records match.
Conversion is optional, and not every leasehold owner needs it urgently. The decision depends on your plans for the property.
| Your plan | How much freehold matters |
|---|---|
| Selling soon | High. Many buyers and lenders prefer freehold and pay more for it. |
| Taking a loan against the property | Moderate to high, depending on the bank. |
| Living there long term with no sale plans | Lower. You may wait for the new policy and clearer rates. |
| Passing it to children | Moderate. Freehold simplifies inheritance, but substitution of leasehold is also possible. |
| Redevelopment of a plot | Often high, because lenders, builders and buyers of floors prefer freehold. |
| Property with unresolved family disputes | Conversion is barred until title is settled, so resolving the dispute comes first. |
The trade-off is money and paperwork now against convenience and value later. For most owners who intend to sell or redevelop, conversion pays for itself. Those with no plans may reasonably wait to see the new policy and rates, while keeping their documents and dues in order.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lessor | The owner granting the lease: the President of India, acting through DDA or L&DO. |
| Lessee or sub-lessee | The person holding the property under the lease; members of cooperative societies are usually sub-lessees. |
| Premium | The price paid at the time of allotment or lease. |
| Ground rent | The annual rent payable under the lease. |
| Re-entry | The lessor's right to take back the property for breach of conditions. |
| Unearned increase | A share of the increase in value historically claimed by the lessor on transfer; not recoverable in GPA cases under the conversion brochure. |
| Conversion charges | One-time charges for converting leasehold to freehold. |
| Conveyance deed | The registered deed that makes the property freehold. |
| Mutation | Recording a new holder in DDA's or municipal records. |
| Substitution | Recording heirs in place of a deceased lessee. |
| D-form or completion certificate | Documents showing a society building is complete and allotted to members. |
| IDLI portal | DDA's online system for conversion applications. |
| L&DO | Land and Development Office of the Housing Ministry. |
| MoHUA | Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, which sets conversion policy. |
Delhi has hundreds of cooperative group housing societies built on land leased by DDA, especially in Dwarka, Rohini, Patparganj, I.P. Extension, Vasundhara Enclave and Mayur Vihar. Members hold their flats as sub-lessees, and the society itself holds the head lease from DDA. That layered structure adds a few requirements.
A scheme under which holders of eligible DDA residential leasehold properties pay one-time charges and receive a conveyance deed, making the property freehold.
Leasehold is a long lease subject to conditions and ground rent; freehold is outright ownership without a lessor.
No. The scheme is optional.
As of October 2026, the conversion portal has been down since January and the policy is under review, so fresh applications are effectively on hold.
The portal stopped working and the Government began reviewing the policy, including rates, to simplify it.
It directed DDA to process all pending applications within two months under the policy in force when each was filed, and to frame a policy for fresh applications.
Delhi Development Authority v. Mala Sahni Seth and connected matters, before a Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Vikas Mahajan.
1,373 applications filed between 2020 and 2026, with about Rs 155.06 crore collected, as recorded by the High Court.
The matter was listed for 11 December 2026.
No. The High Court held that applications with charges paid must be processed under the policy and rates in force when filed.
An earlier Delhi High Court ruling that DDA cannot charge higher rates to applicants who paid with their application merely because rates changed later.
Likely for future applications, as the Government has said rates are under review. Pending applications are protected.
Residential built-up plots, DDA flats of all categories including Janta, LIG, MIG, HIG and SFS, Asian Games Village flats, and cooperative society flats on DDA land.
As reported, plots of up to 50 square metres were excluded under the existing scheme.
No. The residential scheme does not cover commercial or industrial properties, which have separate rules.
When title is disputed, re-entry is pending, mutation is pending, land use is non-residential, or mortgagee NOCs or dues are outstanding.
Yes, with a valid power of attorney to sell, agreement to sell, proof of possession and the chain of documents.
Yes. A surcharge of 33⅓ per cent on the conversion charges applies under the brochure.
The brochure states no unearned increase is recoverable where possession was transferred through a power of attorney under the scheme.
Yes. Where there is a chain of powers of attorney, only the last attorney can apply, with the full chain attested.
Under the brochure, yes: up to five annual instalments with 12 per cent simple interest.
Only after all instalments are paid. Ground rent continues until then.
Yes, with interest, before conversion.
You need NOCs from every mortgagee bank.
Only after all instalments and interest are paid.
Lease or allotment papers, possession proof, undertaking, affidavit, indemnity bonds, photos and signatures, ground rent details, NOCs, and GPA chain where applicable.
Probably. The 2026 review discussed pruning documents and online verification.
The brochure contemplates disposal within 90 days of completing formalities, but 2026 delays have been far longer.
Under the brochure, deficiencies must be cured within 30 days or the application may be treated as rejected.
The registered document that transfers ownership from the lessor to you, making the property freehold.
No. The conveyance deed must be executed and registered.
The beneficiary pays stamp duty and registration charges.
A public notice and affidavit are required before the conveyance deed is executed.
It is cancelled and returned with the conveyance deed.
The authorities said transfers can continue under the established procedure, but the High Court found that procedure unclear. Take advice before transacting.
Possibly, with careful due diligence and an agreement dealing with conversion risks and charges.
Many banks lend on leasehold with DDA mortgage permission, though some prefer freehold.
Settle succession, get substitution or mutation with DDA, and then apply for conversion when the policy allows.
No. A title dispute bars conversion until resolved.
Recording heirs or successors in place of a deceased lessee or allottee in DDA's records.
No. Building violations remain subject to municipal and DDA rules.
Under lease terms, misuse can lead to penalties or re-entry; applicants undertake to stop misuse on notice.
The Land and Development Office of the Housing Ministry, which administers leases of many New Delhi and older colony properties.
L&DO was included in the 2026 policy review and High Court directions, so similar uncertainty applies.
No. PM-UDAY recognises rights in unauthorised colonies; DDA conversion is for DDA leasehold properties.
Write to DDA citing the High Court's orders, use grievance channels, and consider a writ petition if delay continues.
Yes, under Article 226 in the Delhi High Court, to seek a time-bound decision or correct application of policy.
Courts generally leave rates to the Government but ensure fairness, consistency and prospective application.
Refunds may be claimed where an application is rejected or withdrawn, subject to the rules.
The High Court noted this. Approved applicants should press DDA in writing to execute the conveyance deeds.
Usually yes, because freehold property is easier to sell, mortgage and inherit.
No. Ground rent stops after the conveyance deed.
Yes, by a registered gift deed, subject to stamp duty.
Yes. The heirs or legatees will then need substitution with DDA.
Yes, once the society has the completion certificate or D-form and possession has been given to members.
Press the society and approach the Registrar of Cooperative Societies; conversion depends on it.
Not for simple cases. A lawyer helps with delays, disputes, GPA gaps, writs and transactions.
Yes. Finding and speaking with an advocate costs nothing; only documents the platform drafts carry a fee.
No. It is a technology platform connecting you with independent advocates, not a law firm or agent.
Mara Vakil's news report on the September 2026 order summarises it.
Through DDA's portal when it works, written follow-ups, and grievance channels; keep your application number.
The scheme has run online for years. Watch for the new policy's procedure.
DDA's online system for receiving conversion applications, non-functional since 2 January 2026 according to the High Court.
The authorities sought time until 31 December for the policy, but the High Court wanted a policy for fresh applications by 11 December.
Property tax continues under municipal law; update the records with the conveyance deed.
The bank's charge continues on the freehold property; inform the bank and update records.
Conversion is of the plot or property as leased; builder floor arrangements raise additional issues needing advice.
Historically, original allottees received remissions compared with later buyers.
The undertaking under the brochure, including stopping misuse on notice.
Indemnity bonds required with the conversion application.
A small processing fee applies; reports mention Rs 200 under the existing scheme.
Yes, directly or through an attorney under a properly executed power of attorney.
Eligibility depends on the lease terms and scheme rules; take advice for non-individual holders.
The lessor's right to take back the property for breach of lease conditions. Pending re-entry bars conversion.
The minutes said transfers and inheritance can continue under the established procedure, though the court found the procedure unclear.
Leasehold status, dues, any pending conversion application, GPA chain and any DDA notices.
Yes, by agreement. During the freeze, parties often agree how conversion will be handled after sale.
Yes, conversion charges are one-time, though instalments were allowed.
Charges are fixed by policy; remissions applied to original allottees. Wrong calculations can be challenged.
Ask for written reasons, cure defects and reapply, or challenge an arbitrary rejection by writ.
Recording a new lessee in DDA's records after a sale or transfer of a leasehold property.
Usually a death certificate, proof of heirship, will or probate or succession papers, relinquishment deeds and indemnity bonds.
Yes, by a registered gift deed followed by mutation with DDA.
Delhi's stamp duty rules for gifts depend on the relationship and value; check the current rates before execution.
Ideally the seller's own records should be complete; at least the agreement should deal with it.
This depends on DDA's rules; the agreement should address it, and advice is needed.
Title chain, DDA records, conversion status, dues, mortgages, disputes, physical changes and society position.
Most do, with conditions such as DDA mortgage permission or recorded mutation.
If the property is mortgaged, the bank's NOC is required for conversion.
Yes. The bank's charge continues on the freehold property.
They do not always block it, but they remain liable to action and may complicate sale and loans.
Yes. It invites objections from anyone claiming an interest and helps reveal disputes.
Yes, DDA flats of all categories are covered by the residential scheme, subject to its conditions.
Eligibility depends on completion of payments, possession and the scheme terms; check after the new policy.
Yes, if the transfer is properly documented and recorded; the buyer then applies under the policy then in force.
An authorised DDA officer executes it on behalf of the lessor, and the beneficiary registers it.
Point them out before registration; after registration, a rectification deed may be needed.
Yes. Orders are published on the Delhi High Court website and reported by legal news services.
Not known yet. The review discussed moving towards online verification.
A properly authorised attorney may act, subject to DDA's requirements and registration rules.
Yes, once the society's formalities are complete and the member's records are in order.
Yes. Membership approvals and disputes with the society are handled under the Delhi Cooperative Societies law and the Registrar.
Zone-wise rates up to 125 square metres of plinth area, with a proportionate increase above that, under the brochure.
Ask for reasons in writing, complain to the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and take legal advice if the refusal is arbitrary.
Yes. Outstanding dues can hold up certificates the member needs from the society.
Yes. An RTI asking for file status and notings often prompts action and creates a record.
The Government of India's online public grievance system, which can be used for complaints about DDA delays.
Often yes. It records the delay and the legal position and sometimes resolves the issue without litigation.
Not urgently. You may wait for the new policy while keeping documents and dues in order.
Yes. Builders, lenders and buyers of floors generally prefer freehold.
Not where title is disputed. Other litigation may or may not bar it depending on its nature.
The scheme has been largely online, but execution of the deed and some verifications may need attendance.
Generally all co-owners must join or consent, since conversion affects everyone's title.
The lease between DDA and the society, under which members hold sub-leases.
For applications already filed, the policy in force at filing applies; fresh applications await the new policy.
After substitution in her name, or with all heirs' consent, subject to the rules.
This page gives general information based on the sources listed, as checked on 17 October 2026. DDA's conversion policy is under review and court orders are continuing; confirm the current position before acting. Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm, and does not give legal advice. Read our disclaimer.
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