Encumbrance Certificate (EC): Full Guide

An Encumbrance Certificate (EC) is an official proof that a property is free from any legal or monetary liabilities such as loans, mortgages, or court attachments.
It is issued only by the Registration Department of the state where the property is located — not where the applicant resides.

Where to Apply

You can apply:

• Online through your state's official Registration Department portal.
• Offline at the Sub-Registrar Office (SRO) where the property was registered.

How to Apply

Online Process:

• Visit your state's Registration Department portal.
• Register or log in using your mobile number or Aadhaar.
• Choose "Encumbrance Certificate (EC)" from the services list.
• Enter property details — district, village, survey number, and property document number.
• Upload required documents (like sale deed, ID proof, etc.).
• Pay the EC fee online using UPI, net banking, or card.
• Submit and download the acknowledgement for tracking.
• Once verified, download the EC (PDF) or collect it from the SRO.

Offline Process:

• Visit the Sub-Registrar Office (SRO) where the property is registered.
• Fill out Form 22 (Kerala) or Form 1 (Karnataka) — available at the office.
• Attach required documents and ID proof.
• Pay the prescribed fee in cash or challan.
• Collect the acknowledgement slip and check back after the processing period.

When to Apply for an EC

You should apply for an EC when:

• Buying or selling property – to confirm the property is clear of dues.
• Applying for a home loan – banks demand EC for at least the past 13–30 years.
• Updating property records – during transfer, partition, or mutation.
• After repaying a loan – to ensure the bank's charge is removed from property records.
• Before registering a gift or settlement deed – to confirm ownership clarity.

Documents Required

• Application Form (Form 22 / Form 1)
• Copy of latest registered deed (Sale/Gift/Partition, etc.)
• Property tax receipt or Khata/Patta extract
• Identity proof – Aadhaar, Voter ID, Passport, or PAN
• Fee payment receipt
• Affidavit/Annexure, if applicable

EC Portals & Fee Structure (from Govt. Sources)

(All portals are government-owned; fees as per latest state notifications.)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying from your home state instead of the property's state.
• Entering wrong survey/document numbers.
• Ignoring extra sheet charges (₹15/sheet in Kerala).
• Skipping the priority service option where available (for faster delivery).
• Assuming all states have same timelines —
  • Kerala: 3–14 days
  • Delhi: up to 21 days
  • Karnataka: 7–10 days
• Forgetting that manual vs. digital records change delivery time.

Encumbrance Certificate (EC) – FAQ

1. What is an Encumbrance certificate (EC)?

An EC is a formal document indicating whether a property is encumbered by any liability of a legal/financial nature (like a mortgage, loan, litigation, or transfer). It is issued by the Sub-Registrar Office (SRO) of the concerned state.

2. Why is EC important?

Necessary for property sale or purchase
Essential for approval of home loan
Required for mutation and updates in tax against property

3. Can EC be obtained online?

Yes, most of the states provide online EC through their respective registration portals. These include states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, etc.

4. Is there a single national portal for EC?

No. Each state has its own registration portal.

5. Do I need to fill out an application form?

Yes. An offline application requires a prescribed form (e.g., Form 22 in Kerala, Form 1 in Karnataka). All the applications made online are auto-generated forms as available on state portals.

6. How many days will it take to get EC?

Generally 5 to 30 working days, depending on state and SRO workload.

7. What is the fee for EC?

Fees vary across states.
Kerala: ₹105 + Search fee per year
Karnataka: ₹35 per year of search
Tamil Nadu: ₹1 for first year + ₹15 for every subsequent year

8. Can I apply for EC from all states?

No. You can apply only from the state in which the property is located.

9. Which documents are generally needed?

Application form (specific to the state)
Details regarding properties (survey no., deed no., SRO name)
ID proof of the applicant (Aadhar, voter ID, etc.)
Registered sale deed copies or gift deeds, if available

10. What is a Nil Encumbrance Certificate (NEC)?

If there is no transaction/liability recorded while conducting the search, the SRO will then issue the Nil EC.

11. Does EC constitute proof of ownership?

No. EC only refers to registered transactions. Proof of ownership lies in the Sale Deed/Title Deed.

12. For how long is EC valid?

It is valid for the specific period you request (e.g., the last 13 years or 30 years), but what is usually asked for is 30 years.

13. Will EC show unregistered transactions?

No. only registered deeds are covered by an EC. Unregistered agreements will not appear.

14. Can I get EC for ancestral property?

Yes, providing the property contains registered deeds and is available in SRO records.

15. EC can be rejected?

Yes. It can be rejected for wrong property information, incomplete form completion, or incorrect jurisdiction.

16. Can I check the status of EC online?

Yes. EC status can be tracked through many state portals (Karnataka, TN, Kerala, etc).

17. What is the search period required in EC?

People now ask for EC for around 13 years or 30 years. Banks will require it for 30 years, typically.

18. Who issues the EC?

The Sub-Registrar Office (SRO) of the property jurisdiction will be issuing it.

19. Can a lawyer apply on behalf of the owner?

Yes. A lawyer or authorized representative can apply on his behalf with a power of attorney.

20. What are some of the common mistakes made by people while applying?

Wrong survey/document numbers
Applying in wrong SRO jurisdiction
Don't compare spellings of names in deed vs the application.
Did not request the right period (only asking for 1-2 years instead of 30)
Ignore the online EC facility and waste time putting up offline