The sale deed is registered and the keys are yours — but in Bangalore, buying a flat is only half the job. Until you update the ownership records, the khata, property tax, electricity (BESCOM), and water (BWSSB) accounts are all still in the previous owner’s name. Leave them and you risk blocked transfers, misdirected bills, and headaches when you eventually sell. This is the complete post-purchase checklist, in the right order.
Why These Updates Matter
Your registered sale deed proves you own the property. But the civic and utility records are separate systems that do not update automatically:
- Khata — the BBMP record of who is liable for property tax. Still in the seller’s name until you transfer it.
- Property tax — assessed against the khata; any old arrears block a clean transfer.
- BESCOM (electricity) and BWSSB (water) — billed to the previous owner until you transfer the connections.
Getting these into your name protects your bills, subsidies, and — importantly — your ability to sell or mortgage later.
The Post-Purchase Checklist (In Order)
| # | Task | Why It Comes First | Typical Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clear any property tax arrears | Blocks the khata transfer if pending | 1–3 days |
| 2 | Khata transfer to your name | The master ownership record | 2–4 weeks |
| 3 | Property tax update under your khata | Ensures future bills are in your name | 1–3 days |
| 4 | BESCOM electricity name transfer | Bills & connection work in your name | A few weeks |
| 5 | BWSSB water name transfer | Bills & connection work in your name | A few weeks |
The order matters: arrears → khata → tax → utilities. A khata transfer will stall if old property tax is unpaid, and utility transfers go more smoothly once the khata and tax records are clean.
Step 1 — Clear Property Tax Arrears
BBMP will not transfer the khata into your name while there are pending property tax dues — and those dues carry over to you as the new owner. Check the status by PID first, then clear any arrears (interest accrues at 2% per month).
See our full guide: BBMP Property Tax Arrears After Buying a Flat.
Find and clear property tax dues →
Step 2 — Khata Transfer
The khata is BBMP’s record of who owns and pays tax on the property. Transferring it to your name is the single most important post-purchase step. You will need the registered sale deed, the previous khata, up-to-date tax receipts, and an Encumbrance Certificate.
- New to khatas? Read A-Khata vs B-Khata vs e-Khata explained.
- Want the full process? See the Khata Transfer Guide and the complete cost breakdown.
If your property is B-Khata, you may also want to look at B-Khata to A-Khata conversion.
Get khata transfer assistance →
Step 3 — Update Property Tax Under Your Khata
Once the khata is in your name, make sure the property tax is assessed and paid under your record going forward. Paying the full year early can earn a 5% rebate. This keeps your ownership trail clean for any future sale or loan.
Step 4 & 5 — BESCOM & BWSSB Name Transfer
After a purchase, the BESCOM electricity and BWSSB water accounts are still in the previous owner’s name. Transferring them ensures bills, subsidies, and any future connection work are correctly under you — and it is often needed alongside the khata transfer.
What You Need
- Sale deed and khata (proof of ownership)
- Latest electricity bill (for the RR number)
- Latest water bill (for the account number)
- ID proof
BESCOM and BWSSB name transfers typically take a few weeks each, depending on inspections and the sub-division office.
Transfer BESCOM & BWSSB to your name →
Do It as One Bundle — the Smart Way
Because these tasks depend on each other, handling them together is faster and avoids repeated document collection. Sevantay can bundle khata transfer + property tax update + BESCOM/BWSSB name transfer into one managed package — you upload your documents once, and we run the whole chain in the right order.
| Handled Separately | Handled as One Bundle |
|---|---|
| Repeat document uploads for each office | Upload once, we reuse across all |
| Risk of doing them out of order | We sequence arrears → khata → tax → utilities |
| Chasing four different departments | One tracking page, WhatsApp updates |
Pay after we confirm the scope and quote — government fees are passed through; only our service fee carries GST.
Quick Reference: Documents to Keep Ready
- Registered sale deed
- Previous owner’s khata certificate & extract
- Latest property tax receipt (for the PID)
- Encumbrance Certificate (13–15 years)
- Latest electricity bill (RR number)
- Latest water bill (account number)
- Your ID proof (Aadhaar / PAN)
How Sevantay Can Help
Post-purchase paperwork in Bangalore spans four departments and a strict order of operations. Sevantay handles the whole checklist — property tax, khata transfer, and BESCOM/BWSSB name change — so your new home is fully, cleanly in your name.
Just bought a flat? Get everything into your name.
- Call us: +91-9986914198
- WhatsApp: Send a message
- Start the utility name transfer → — or ask us to bundle khata, tax and utilities together