The ultimate guide to applying for government housing in Chennai

The government of India has been working hard towards the goal of affordable housing for all by launching the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Similarly, state governments also have various schemes and systems in place to alleviate the living situation of the citizens in their state. 

The Tamil Nadu government also has regulatory authorities and boards that constantly come up with better and affordable housing solutions. For the case of Chennai, we have two regulatory authorities that provide government housing options, albeit in different versions.

These authorities are the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). Today we will take a look at what government housing options these Tamil Nadu Government authorities provide for the residents of Chennai and how to apply for the same.

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Chennai Government flats under Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB)

The Tamil Nadu Housing Board is a regulatory authority that constructs, maintains and allots apartments to the government officials of the Tamil Nadu state government. It also provides affordable housing options to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG), Middle Income Group (MIG), and the Higher Income Group (HIG) all across the state of Tamil Nadu.

The TNHB also allows for payment of such housing over a long period of time. They are also responsible for allotting the land for commercial and social infrastructure. The authority is now also awarding No-objection Certificates (NOCs) to owners of the land that was previously to be acquired by the TNHB for their various schemes.

To buy a house under TNHB you need to follow these simple steps.

Step 1: Look out for advertisements by TNHB in leading newspapers. TNHB releases ads for the application and allotment of houses once development is completed.

Step 2: figure out which income group you belong to:

Economically Weaker Section (EWS): Up to 12,000 (INR per month)

Lower Income Group (LIG): 12,001-18,000 (INR per month)

Middle Income Group (MIG): 18,001-37,000 (INR per month)

Higher Income Group (HIG): 37,001-62,000 (INR per month)

Super HIG: Above 62,001 (INR per month)

Step 3: Check your eligibility. The following is the eligibility criteria to apply for a house under TNHB.

1. The applicant must be 21 years of age at the time of allotment.

2. The spouse or minor children of the applicant must not have a house allotted by TNHB.

3. The applicant must be a native of Tamil Nadu. 

Step 4: Once you are sure of your eligibility to apply for a TNHB house, you can acquire a form from the respective authority mentioned in the advertisement. Once filled, this form must be submitted to the respective unit/division office along with a fee, before or on the due date as mentioned on the form/advertisement.

If the number of applicants exceeds the number of flats available, the allotment of housing is done via a lottery system by drawing applicants. 

Ongoing and Upcoming Projects in Chennai by Tamil Nadu Housing Board 

The following are the ongoing and upcoming projects by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board in Chennai.

1. 72 HIG flats under the Self Finance Scheme in Anna Nagar. These flats have an approximate area between 1561-1584 sq. ft. and a cost of roughly INR 10,500 per sq. ft.

2. 35 3 BHK HIG and 147 2 BHK MIG flats at Anna Nagar under the Self Finance Scheme. The cost per sq. ft. of these flats is estimated to be NR 8,355.

3. 423 2 BHK LIG flats in Ambattur. The price per sq. ft. of these flats is roughly INR 3,800 and the total area is approximately 627 sq. ft.

4. 207 3 BHK HIG,669 2 BHK MIG, and 119 2 BHK LIG flats in Sholinganallur. The cost per sq. ft. for these flats is estimated to be INR 4,670 for HIG, INR 4,625 for MIG, and INR 4,390 for LIG flats. The total area ranges from 1155 sq. ft for HIG, 828 sq. ft. for MIG and 682 sq. ft. for LIG.

5. 70 3 BHK HIG,189 2 BHK MIG, and 239 1 BHK LIG flats in Sholinganallur. The cost per sq. ft. for these flats is estimated to be INR 5,275 for HIG, INR 5,195 for MIG, and INR 4,975 for LIG flats. The total area ranges from 1200 sq. ft for HIG, 828 sq. ft. for MIG and 617 sq. ft. for LIG.

6. 90 HIG, and 120 MIG flats in AP Pathrow Salai and Dr Ramasamy Salai. 

7. 120 MIG flats in Jafferkhanpet under the Self-finance Scheme.

8. 150 HIG and 90 MIG flats under the Self-Finance Scheme in Shenoy Nagar. The cost per sq. ft. for these flats is INR 9,700. The area for the MIG flats is 898 sq. ft. while the area for the HIG flats ranges from 1149-1314 sq. ft.

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Chennai Government Residential Plots under Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA)

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority does not have an application or allotment system similar to the Tamil Nadu Housing Board by draw of lots.

One can simply find a plot listed by CMDA and apply for the plot with a minimal fee that needs to be paid along with the completed application. The CMDA focuses on offering plots to the economically weaker section of the Chennai residents by providing pots in up and coming neighbourhoods.

As discussed and detailed above, anyone looking for government housing in Chennai has two options. They can either buy a flat in the Tamil Nadu Housing Board’s multi-storeyed apartment buildings or buy a plot from the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and construct their home on it.

Whichever option you choose, you will have to go through the application procedure mentioned above. Apart from allotting home and plot sales in Chennai, the government also allows for rental residential units in the city. These also need to be applied for in advance. Some rental units are offered to only government employees working with the state government of the central government.

These measures were taken by the Tamil Nadu government to provide better and affordable housing to the economically weaker sections of the society. They have significantly helped in alleviating the living conditions of the financially weaker sections in Chennai.

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