Telangana double bedroom housing under scrutiny as state cracks down on illegal sales
Hyderabad: The Telangana government launched a strict crackdown on illegal sales of double-bedroom houses after officials received several complaints about beneficiaries disposing of their units. Although the scheme bans such transfers, sellers demanded between ₹20 lakh and ₹40 lakh for each house and completed deals through notarised stamp papers. Because prices changed with floor levels, brokers actively pushed beneficiaries toward quick sales.
Officials said the sales violated core scheme rules, and they prepared criminal cases under the Prevention of Transfer Act. The state built 96,000 double-bedroom units across 101 GHMC colonies. Kollur has 16,000 houses, while Rampally has 6,300. Ahmedguda holds 4,500, Dundigal has 4,000, and Pratap Singaram and Maheshwaram each have 2,000. Across 20 locations, the government built 1,000 to 15,000 units. Lakhs of applicants sought these houses for permanent city housing.
Because many beneficiaries lived elsewhere during the week, officials noticed irregular occupation patterns. Some visited their allotted units only on weekends. As a result, townships built with large public investment faced several civic issues. Brokers used these gaps and encouraged beneficiaries to sell their houses, although the law barred such deals.
Telangana double-bedroom housing to see new allocation
Officials identified 59,000 vacant or incomplete units across the state. Since the government planned to allot them to poor families without land or homes, authorities stepped up action on illegal sales. Brokers reportedly contacted beneficiaries from the start of the scheme. They offered between ₹20 lakh and ₹50 lakh for each unit and promised to handle any legal issues.
During inspections, officials noticed fresh instances of illegal sales. Consequently, Housing Corporation MD Gautam wrote to the power department, Water Board, GHMC and other agencies. He asked them not to change beneficiary names in any record and ordered them to block all forms of registration linked to these houses.
Telangana double-bedroom housing survey expands statewide
Survey teams visited each house in the GHMC limits. They confirmed beneficiaries, checked current occupants and recorded family details. In addition, they noted blood relations, rental activity, phone numbers and photographs. All data went into an app developed by the Centre for Good Governance, and officials submitted the report to the government.
Earlier surveys happened with advance notice. However, officials now planned surprise checks. The housing department also prepared a statewide survey to track misuse.
Many houses stand almost 20 kilometres from the city. Because the previous government lacked land in core areas, it built large clusters on the outskirts. Before elections, it distributed these houses to families living in the city. Since most beneficiaries worked inside Hyderabad, many avoided shifting. As a result, several units remained vacant, and many went on rent. Brokers later exploited the situation and pushed illegal sales.
Telangana double-bedroom housing sales to face criminal action
Housing Corporation MD Gautam said the government would file criminal cases if any beneficiary sold a double-bedroom unit. He said such sales had no legal value and the state would take back the houses. Moreover, he said all related departments received strict orders to block registrations and name transfers. Gautam also said GHMC completed its occupant survey. The government would cancel houses rented out in violation of rules and extend surveys to all districts. Since lakhs of poor families awaited allotment, the state developed schools, hospitals, ambulances, markets and bus links near the outer townships.