Encumbrance Certificate Online Application and Download Process

Encumbrance Certificate: Before buying and selling a house or land, it’s important to check if there are any bank loans or legal issues related to the property; you can do this with an Encumbrance Certificate (EC). This certificate is crucial for property deals as it reveals any financial or legal problems linked to the property. 

Understanding the Encumbrance Certificate meaning helps you make informed decisions before purchasing or selling property. Read this article till the end to understand an EC in-depth. 

Basics of an Encumbrance Certificate

An EC is a legal paper that says there are no monetary or legal problems related to a particular property. It shows all types of transactions that have happened with the property. It is like if the owner has ever borrowed money using the property or if there are any legal issues with it. 

So, if an individual is buying a property, the Encumbrance Certificate makes sure there are no hidden debts or legal troubles with it. It states that an individual is dealing with an honest seller and that the property is free from any unpaid debts.

Why Do We Need the Encumbrance Certificate?

Before buying a house, one would need to make sure the property is legally theirs. Having an EC will make sure the property an individual wishes to purchase does not have any hidden monetary or legal problems. 

It is important to clear up any wrong charges on the EC before buying. The EC will also tell one if there is another person who legally has ownership of the land. If an individual is taking a loan to buy a house, the bank will ask for the EC to make sure everything is okay. So, getting an Encumbrance Certificate is essential for a safe and smooth home purchase.

Encumbrance Certificate Vs. Completion Certificate

Encumbrance Certificates and Completion Certificates seem similar, but they are actually different documents.

• The sub-registrar office gives an EC to mention that a property does not have any legal or financial issues.
• A Completion Certificate or a CC is provided by local authorities to developers when a project follows all real estate laws and requirements. Once a CC is given, an Occupancy Certificate or an OC can be issued.

Different Types Of Encumbrance Certificate

There are two types of EC. They are Form 15 and Form 16. 

• Form 15: If an individual applies for an EC for a property, it reflects that the property has some encumbrance issues during the time it is applied; one will get a Form 15 from the sub-registrar’s office.
• Form 16: If there are no encumbrance problems registered against the property during the time of application, one will receive a Form 16. A Form 16 is also known as a Nil Encumbrance Certificate, stating that the property does not have any encumbrance issues.

Know About Certificate’ No Lien’

When requesting an EC, individuals must specify the duration needed for the information. If there have been no encumbrances on the property during that period, they will receive a Nil Encumbrance Certificate, indicating that no lenders have placed a lien on the property.

Documents You Will Need to Apply for an Encumbrance Certificate 

The list of documents required to acquire an EC are as follows:

• Application Form
• Property Owner Details
• Proof of Address
• Copy of Deed 
• Property Registration Document

Steps for Encumbrance Certificate Online Application

To get an Encumbrance Certificate online, you can follow the process below. However, in some states, the process might differ, but below is the common method in most of the states:-

Step 1: Visit your State’s official land registration website and find the ‘Encumbrance Certificate’ application section.

Step 2: Fill in all the required details on the form and save it.

Step 3: Choose the time you want the Encumbrance Certificate for and check the fees.

Step 4: Pay the fee online, and you will land on an acknowledgment page. Print it for future use.

Step 5: An inspector will come to check your property. After that, you will receive the EC. If there were no transactions during that time, you will get a Nil Encumbrance Certificate. 

Note:- However, remember that each state might have its specific process, so double-check the requirements.

Offline Application of an Encumbrance Certificate

If you are not able to apply online, you can always apply offline. To do so, you need to go to the Sub-Register office to get an EC.

The offline process is as follows:-

1. Fill out Form 22 with seller/buyer names. The type of document, in this case, will be an EC, other property details, and a few more.
2. Once you have filled out the form, now pay the fees.
3. You will receive a reference number for your application. You can check the status of your EC with this number.

Fee Structure for Encumbrance Certificate Application

The cost to apply for an EC differs from one state to the other. Below are the fees of some places to get this certificate:-

1. Delhi: Starting from Rupees 200, but it can increase based on where you live and how many years you need.
2. Telangana: Rupees 200 for up to 30 years and Rupees 500 for more than 30 years. Plus, a service charge of Rupees 25.
3. Tamil Nadu: Rupee 1 for the application, Rupees 15 for the first year’s information, and Rupees 5 for each additional year.
4. Andhra Pradesh: Rupees 300 for up to 30 years of information and Rupees 500 for more than 30 years.

Check an Encumbrance Certificate Status 

Different websites have different processes for checking your EC status. Almost all the government websites where you apply for an Encumbrance Certificate online let you track your application’s progress.

For example, for the Kerala Government’s official website, you can follow this process:-

1. Go to the ‘Certificate’ section and choose “Encumbrance Certificate” from the menu.
2. Click on the “Application Status/Download” button.
3. Enter the Transaction ID given to you when you applied.
4. Click on “Check Status”.
5. You will see your Encumbrance Certificate Status on the screen, and you can download it in PDF format.

Final Words

An Encumbrance Certificate is an important paper that you will need to buy or sell a house or get loans. Make sure to follow the steps your state government gives to get one. In this article, we have mentioned the relevant information regarding an EC, such as its offline and online application process, status check process, fees, etc. We hope you find the article valuable; keep visiting our website for more such articles. 

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