Buying Property in Odisha? Real Estate Agents Must Now Verify Every Client Against Global Watchlists
Bhubaneswar, July 6, 2026: Property transactions in Odisha are set to face stricter compliance checks after the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA) directed all registered real estate agents to verify clients against the latest United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions lists before completing property or financial transactions.
The move is aimed at strengthening anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terror financing (CFT) safeguards in the real estate sector, bringing property transactions in line with updated international compliance standards.
What has ORERA asked real estate agents to do?
Under the new directive, all registered real estate agents have been classified as reporting entities and must strengthen their customer verification process.
Before proceeding with any property transaction, agents will now be required to:
- Verify clients against the latest UN sanctions lists.
- Conduct enhanced due diligence if a client's details closely match a restricted profile.
- Report confirmed matches immediately to ORERA and the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND).
- Avoid carrying out transactions involving individuals or entities appearing on the sanctions list.
The authority has warned that failure to follow these compliance requirements could invite action under applicable laws.
Why has this rule been introduced?
The directive follows recent updates made by the United Nations Security Council to its global sanctions lists, which include individuals and organisations linked to terrorism financing and other international security concerns.
ORERA said the revised compliance framework is intended to ensure that Odisha's real estate sector follows the latest legal and regulatory requirements under India's anti-money laundering framework.
What does this mean for homebuyers?
For most genuine buyers and sellers, property transactions are expected to continue as usual.
However, buyers may notice stricter identity verification and customer due diligence during the transaction process, as agents strengthen compliance procedures before processing deals.
The additional verification is intended to improve transparency and reduce the risk of misuse of real estate transactions for illegal financial activities.
Grihik Takeaway
The latest ORERA directive reflects a growing focus on compliance in India's real estate sector. While it introduces additional verification responsibilities for registered agents, it also aims to make property transactions more transparent and aligned with global financial security standards.