Encumbrance Certificate: EC View & Online EC Check Guide

Q: Is EC check online required for a home loan?

Yes, before granting a home loan, banks usually need an EC view to confirm the property's legal status and make sure there are no encumbrances on it.

07 MAY, 2025

An Encumbrance Certificate (EC) is very important in property transactions. It acts as concrete proof of property ownership, validating both financial and legal aspects. For those seeking a home loan, buying or selling a property, or applying for a loan against one, the EC is a must-have document. It provides a comprehensive record of registered property transactions dating back up to 30 years, offering valuable insights into a property's history. In this blog, we will learn about the EC certificate's meaning, its importance, and why it's crucial in property purchases. Learn how to get your EC certificate online and the documents required.

What is an Encumbrance Certificate (EC)?

An Encumbrance Certificate, often referred to as an EC for property certificate, is a fundamental legal document that serves as an official confirmation of the property's free title/ownership status, indicating whether it is mortgaged or has any legal dues. This certificate is vital for property buyers as it ensures a transparent and hassle-free transaction process. Nowadays, online EC view is simplifying the verification process for potential buyers and sellers.

Why EC View is Important for Home Loan Approval

While purchasing a property, buyers face the risk of inheriting liabilities linked to the property. The EC is an important document confirming that the property does not have any outstanding liabilities. By doing an EC check online, individuals seeking to buy a property are assured that the previous owners have not taken a loan against the property in question.
Individuals seeking a loan against property or those applying for a home loan can furnish this document as proof that they are the owner of the property and eligible for the loan.
The EC view is also required for the mutation of a property.
If a land or property tax remains unpaid for more than three years, the document is furnished to the village/panchayat officer to update the records.
An EC is required when an individual wants to withdraw money from a PF account.

Types of Encumbrance Certificates

Two types of encumbrance certificates that are issued by the sub-registrar office (SRO):

Form 15: On Form 15, the SRO issues an encumbrance if there is any transaction involving a property that involves inheritance, sale, purchase, lease, loan, gifting, relinquishment, or partition.

Form 16: When an applicant applies for a certificate and the property has no recorded transactions or encumbrances, the SRO issues an encumbrance on Form 16. Form 16 is also referred to as a nil-encumbrance certificate.

What Is a Non-Encumbrance Certificate?

A non-encumbrance certificate (also known as nil-encumbrance) is issued when no transactions like mortgages, loans, or legal disputes are recorded against a property during the specified period.

Difference Between Encumbrance and Non-Encumbrance Certificate

Aspect	Encumbrance Certificate (Form 15)	Non-Encumbrance Certificate (Form 16)
Purpose	To verify registered transactions.	To confirm the absence of any transactions.
Issued When	Transactions are recorded.	No transactions are recorded.
Usage	Property sale, mortgage, loan.	Verifying clear title.

How to Get an EC Certificate Online?

Visit the Government Portal: Go to the official property registration portal in your state. For example, in Tamil Nadu, you can get the EC view on the portal TNReginet.
Register or Log In: Create an account or log in with your credentials.
Fill Out Form 22: Provide buyer, seller, and property details, along with the specified period.
Attach Documents: Upload necessary documents like property papers and identification.
Pay the Fee: Complete the online payment for processing the EC. This fee is paid as a processing charge to procure the required details in the form of an EC.
Verification and Issuance: The sub-registrar's office reviews your documents and issues either Form 15 (if there are encumbrances) or Form 16 (if there are none).
Download the EC: Once ready, download and keep a copy for your records.

Remember, an EC check online is crucial for property transactions, ensuring transparency in financial and legal history.

Documents Required to Obtain an Encumbrance Certificate

The documents required for the Encumbrance Certificate are as follows:

Document of property registration
Property and its possession deed detail
Title deed
Gift Deed or Sale deed, or partition deed if the deed has been completed previously
A copy of the reference letter of authority
Address proof
A duly filled application through Form 22

Online Application of Encumbrance Certificate on Property

The majority of states in India allow for the application as well as EC checks online through their official portals. However, the methodology of application as well as EC view differs from one state to the other depending upon their websites and their interface. On the other hand, many states still don't have the facility to apply for an Encumbrance Certificate online, and one must follow the manual procedure.

The applicants can review if their state or the state where the property in question is listed as a portal that accepts online EC check and new applications. The steps to apply for the application manually are quite similar to that of an online application. However, the only difference lies in the physical visit to the respective sub-registrar’s office. Also, the documentation is similar to the ones used in manual applications.

Application Fee for Getting an Encumbrance Certificate

The application fee varies by state and the number of years for which the EC is requested. Here is a rough estimate of application fees for some of the states:

Andhra Pradesh & Telangana: Rs. 200 for up to 30 years; Rs.500 for more than 30 years.
Kerala: Rs.10 for a single search; Rs.10 per additional sheet.
Maharashtra: Rs.200 to Rs.500, depending on the number of years.
Delhi: The request fee starts from Rs.200. However, the price varies with several years and location.
Uttar Pradesh: Starts from Rs. 100 for up to 10 years and increases by Rs. 100 for every 10 years.

How Long Does it take to get an Encumbrance Certificate?

The processing time for new application or EC check online and offline applications are different:

Online Applications: Typically processed in 2 to 3 working days.
Offline Applications: Generally, it takes up to 15 to 30 days. After you submit the application, your property is inspected by the inspector after which the certificate is granted.

What does an EC for a Home Loan Include?

When acquiring a Certificate of Encumbrance on Property for a specific timeframe, it encompasses a comprehensive list of all property transactions registered during that period.

An EC typically covers up to 30 years of property history, offering insights into any encumbrances, such as loans, leases, or legal obligations. It's essential to note that when you request an EC for a particular time frame, you'll receive details limited to that period.
The information is sourced from the records available with the sub-register, ensuring transparency and clarity in property transactions. Obtain your EC certificate online to access this valuable data conveniently.

Tracking Encumbrance Certificates Application Status

As the sub-registrar’s office accepts and receives the application, the applicants receive an acknowledgement/reference number. The acknowledgement/reference number is provided in the case of both manual and online applications. The applicants can use this number to track the status of their applications. The processing of EC usually takes about 15-20 days and can also vary from state to state.

Benefits of EC

Here are the benefits of EC for buyers, sellers and current owners.

Buyer: An EC can help in evaluating the prospective property for any obligation and monetary dues. A home loan certificate provided by the seller can be utilised as an additional check.
Seller: An EC with no dues and clear transactions can help in selling the property quickly. A clear property helps in attracting buyers easily. A possession certificate for a home loan is the other document that the seller must provide to the buyer.
Current owner: The EC provides strong validation for property ownership and can be used to verify collateral when applying for a loan against property.

Risks of Not Acquiring an Encumbrance Certificate

If you don’t have an EC, you will land in legal trouble and more. Let’s analyse some of the risks involved:

Legal Disputes: Without an EC, there can be multiple legal claims and disputes over ownership.
Financial Liabilities: There are chances that there are several unpaid loans or mortgages associated with the property.
Loan Rejection: Encumbrance certificates are crucial in the Home Loan process and without one, it is difficult to get approvals.
Inability to Prove Ownership: An EC proves the absence or presence of any legal encumbrance on the property. Without it, you will face difficulties proving the legitimacy of ownership for loans and future sales.

Which States Provide Online EC View?

ECs are granted physically in most states except a few like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana that provide online Encumbrance Certificates. You can check out our guides to portals like TNReginet for EC view online to get an idea of how these portals work.
Due to technical issues with the Karnataka’s government, the Kaveri Online system returned to the offline method in 2020. Later Kaveri 2.0 was released by the government.

Alternatives to EC for Verifying Property Title

While an EC is important, other documents can also help verify a property's title:

Mother Deed (Title Deed/Sale Deed)
Mutation Certificate
Property Tax Receipts
Conversion Certificate (NA Order)
Approval from Local Authority (Commencement Certificate)
Occupancy Certificate (Completion Certificate)
No Objection Certificate (NOC)
Joint Development Agreement
Land Records (e.g., 7/12 Extract in Maharashtra)

However, it depends on which document your state considers as an alternative.

Read Also: What is nach Full Form

Conclusion

An Encumbrance Certificate (EC), also known as a Statement of Encumbrance on Property, plays an indispensable role in confirming property liabilities. It's a paramount solution for potential buyers, ensuring a property is free of obligations, and current owners. In loans against property applications, providing an EC is mandatory, expediting the process. One can obtain an EC through the sub-registrar's office or online through state web portals.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any particular timeline to get the Encumbrance Certificate?

The timeline for obtaining an Encumbrance Certificate typically depends on the processing speed of the sub-registrar's office. Usually, the time period varies between 15-20 days.

Why is it important to have an Encumbrance Certificate?

An EC is imperative to ensure a property is free from any obligations, dues, taxes, or other charges. It provides clarity and transparency in property transactions, assuring both buyers and lenders of the property's financial and legal status.

How to download an Encumbrance Statement for your property?

To obtain an Encumbrance Statement, you can often use online portals provided by the state government. This allows you to access a soft copy of the certificate, which can be easily downloaded and printed for your records.

Is EC check online required for a home loan?

Yes, before granting a home loan, banks usually need an EC view to confirm the property's legal status and make sure there are no encumbrances on it.

How long is an EC certificate valid?

The EC is valid up to a maximum period of up to 30 years. However, if you request an EC for a specific time frame, you will get details only for that period. Obtaining an updated EC is crucial when applying for loans secured by real estate or dealing with real estate transactions.

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What Is an Encumbrance Certificate? How to EC View or Do an EC Check Online