Encumbrance Certificate (EC)

‘Encumbrance’ refers to a mortgage or a claim made by others on assets or property. The Encumbrance Certificate (EC) is an important document which is required at the time of buying or selling a property or while availing a Home Loan or Loan Against Property.

One can check for all possible legal complications that might be associated with a property by analysing the Encumbrance Certificate (EC). This will essentially help the future buyer to find out whether someone other than the current owner can claim ownership of the property or not.

With the exception of a few states, Encumbrance Certificates are majorly issued physically. States which prefer to go the online route for the same include Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana.

As it is one of the most important legal documents, an individual is usually required to present an EC for the following purposes:

• Availing Home Loans

• Purchasing Property

• PF Withdrawals 

• Mutation of Property 

• Sale of Property 

 Listed below are some reasons why an EC is important:

• It enables one to purchase a property without litigations

• Acts as proof for property-owners

• The document helps in updating the land-based records

In order to get an Encumbrance Certificate online, the applicant must follow the following step-by-step guide.

• Step 1: Visit the official website of the Registration and Stamps Department of your respective state

• Step 2: Login by entering your credentials and the provided Captcha code

• Step 3: Enter your personal and property details in the application form. 

• Step 4: Provide address proof, registration copy, sale deed/gift deed copy, etc.

• Step 5: Submit the application for further proceedings

• Step 6: Note down the acknowledgement number that appears on the screen.

You can use the acknowledgement number to check your application status. Typically, it takes about 2-3 working days for the EC to be issued online.

Following are the steps to be taken in order to avail an EC offline:

• Step 1: Visit the office of your respective sub-registrar.

• Step 2: Fill Form 22

• Step 3: Enter details of the property, the buyer’s and seller’s names, and other details.

• Step 4: Submit the form and pay the fee specified at the office counter.

Once the process is completed, the EC is likely to be issued within 15-30 working days.

Some of the documents you would need while applying for an Encumbrance Certificate are:

• The property sale deed/gift, deed/partition, deed/release deed if a deed has been executed previously

• Property registration document

• Address proof of the applicant

• The signature of the applicant

• Details of the property for which the certificate is being sought

• A copy of the deed if there is one

Following are the steps to track EC Status Online:

• Step 1: Visit the official website

• Step 2: Click on ‘Certificate’, select ‘Encumbrance Certificate’, and click on ‘EC Status’.

• Step 3: Provide the transaction details.

• Step 4: Enter Captcha code and select ‘Check Status’.
  

Your EC would then be provided on your screen. You would have to save and/or download it.

• Apply for an EC Online Andhra Pradesh

• Apply for an EC Online Tamil Nadu

• Apply for an EC Online Telangana

• Apply for an EC online in Kerala

• Apply for  Online EC Karnataka

• Apply for an EC online in Puducherry

• Apply for an EC online in Uttar Pradesh

• Apply for an EC online in Odisha