What is Encumbrance Certificate or EC?
EC or Encumbrance certificate is a legal assurance that a house is free of financial and legal burden. Encumbrance (EC) refers to something that hinders movement or doing what somebody wants. This definition becomes much clearer when used in the context of real estate. When purchasing a new property, a potential buyer must figure out if the property is free from legal or financial liabilities, i.e., The concerned property has free title or ownership.
Along with occupancy and completion certificate, EC is one of the few essential documents that applicants need to submit to their lender to avail a loan.
Encumbrance Certificate (EC) meaning and importance
Encumbrance certificate (called bhar-mukt praman in Hindi) guarantees that an individual has complete ownership of the property in question. It is extremely important for those who want to obtain a loan against property or buy or sell a house. Not only does it confirm the legal title of a property’s owner, but it also makes it eligible for monetary advances from a financial institution against it.
With an EC certificate, you can search for specific property details, like how many times this house has changed hands, and charges, if any. If there is no existing property owner with a right to claim it legally, i.e., it has free title; then it establishes this applicant as the owner. If the property has not been pledged to another lender, it becomes eligible for a new advance subject to other eligibility criteria.
Nil EC or Encumbrance Certificate
When applying for an Encumbrance Certificate (EC) online or at the sub-registrar’s office, the applicant must specify a period for which he/she needs the required information. There are two types of certificate of encumbrance on property, as discussed below:
- Form 15: If this property has previous encumbrances during the period for which an applicant requests an EC, the sub-registrar’s office issues Form 15.
- Form 16: When no lender has placed a lien on the concerned property, there will be no charges placed on it during a specified time. In such situations, a ‘Nil Encumbrance Certificate’ on Form 16 is issued.
EC (Encumbrance Certificate) fees and charges applicable
In most states, handwritten Encumbrance Certificate are issued Applicants have to pay EC fees as per authorities quote. Fees differ from state to state and may change depending on the size of the land and duration for which the certificate is applied.
For example, in Tamil Nadu, the application fee is Rs.1. Information for the first year stands at Rs.15 and an extra Rs.5 per additional year. An additional fee of Rs.100 will be applicable for the computerised period (after 1987). Similarly, the request fee in Delhi starts at Rs.200 and increases depending on the location and time-specific for which the information is requested.
Some states also charge fixed rates based on the duration. For example, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana levy Rs.200 for information up to the first 30 years. This fee goes up to Rs.500 if the information requested is for more than 30 years.
Documents required for applying EC online
When applying for a property or land EC online, applicants will have to carry the following documents with them:
- Application form
- Attested copy of the applicant’s address proof
- Property address documents including survey number and/or patta number
- Property registration document containing the deed and book numbers date, and applicant’s signature
- A copy of sale, partition, gift, or release deed, if any
- A copy of Power of Attorney
- Purpose of applying for EC
- Aadhaar card
- Signature
Contact the sub-registrar’s office for more details on exact required documents.
Steps to get an Encumbrance Certificate online
Only a few states offer Encumbrance Certificate online, as a majority of states still issue a handwritten EC. States that issue encumbrance certificates online are Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and Telangana. In effect, the step-by-step guide to obtaining an encumbrance certificate online will also differ from state to state. You will need to visit their official website to get their applications for the EC certificate of that state. The basic steps are as follows:
- 1 Visit the official portal of these states.
- 2 Locate and click on the Government Forms section.
- 3 Here, locate and click on - > Stamps and Registration > Application form of Encumbrance Certificate.
- 4 Download and fill up Form 22 with the requested information. Attach the documents required along with your Form.
- 5 Submit your application to the nearest sub-registrar office and collect the acknowledgement slip.
- 6 The sub-registrar’s office will conduct a physical inspection of your property and check the index for any previous deeds issued during the requested period.
- 7 Online applications are usually processed in 2-3 working days. You will receive the EC from the sub-registrar’s office in 6 to 30 working days.
Encumbrance Certificate application format
Applicants need to submit a simple formal proforma requesting assistance in the process to apply for an EC. This letter needs to be addressed to - The Registrar (or Sub-registrar), Register (or sub-registrar) office, Address (as per location).
State your property details, like full address mentioned in the registration deed, including East, West, South and North boundaries to identify nearby properties or landmark. Do not worry if you don’t have the complete property details, as the officer will help you fill in the details later.
Steps to track EC application status
You can track encumbrance certificate status from the same government portal.
- 1 Visit the portal and locate the Encumbrance Certificates section.
- 2 Select Encumbrance Certificate > EC Status.
- 3 Enter captcha code and click on the ‘Check Status’ button.
From here, you can download the Encumbrance certificate if issued.
Ensure to keep this document handy before applying for credits like a loan against property to enjoy a smooth borrowing process.
Difference between Encumbrance and Non-Encumbrance Certificate
Certificate type |
Abbreviations |
OC |
|
Non-EC |
|
PC |
Encumbrance Certificate FAQ
An Encumbrance certificate is a legal assurance that a property is free from any legal and financial burden.
Follow these simple steps in order to get an EC certificate:
- Visit the official portal of your state
- Select Encumbrance certificate
- Select EC status
- Clock on check status button
If you are applying for an Encumbrance certificate at the registered office, the process will take up to 15-30 days. However, if you are applying for EC online, you can get it within 2-3 days.
The customer should visit office where the property being referred to is enlisted. Fill up Form 22 and along with it write an application on paper requesting for encumbrance certificate. And pay the required charges in order to get encumbrance certificate.
Encumbrance certificate(EC) can be obtained for 30 years. According to Indian Contracts Act, if the property is mortgaged or encumbered to a government or statutory dues then the limitation period is 30 years.
EC full form in land records- Encumbrance CertificateIt is a certificate of assurance that the concerned property is free from any monetary or legal liability including an uncleared loan or a mortgage.
Need of EC in land records:
- When withdrawing PF to buy property
- When applying for a home loan
- When selling propertyWhen buying property
