When you have decided to buy a piece of land in Tamil Nadu, you should be aware of the term ‘encumbrance certificate’. It is one of the most important pieces of land-related evidence that provides information about the owner and transactions in a particular period.

With the advancement in information technology, availing of the encumbrance certificate in Tamil Nadu has become seamless and less time-consuming. However, before we get into the application process, let’s take a tour of what is an EC.

An encumbrance certificate is a legal document that the Sub-registrar issues under whose jurisdiction the property you buy falls. It breaks down ownership, transactions, and other details regarding the particular property. Further, it proves whether an entity is the property’s original owner while securing legal disputes if they may arise in the future.

The following details are mentioned on an encumbrance certificate –

• Property owner’s name
• Details mentioned in sales deed
• Details of transactions in a particular period
• Documents related to the property
• Mortgage details

An individual can apply for EC in Tamil Nadu online or in person by visiting their nearest Sub-registrar office. Go through the following procedures to grab your valid EC for the land you bought in Tamil Nadu.

Following steps are to be followed to avail EC online in Tamil Nadu –

Step 1 – Go to the official website of Tamil Nadu Registration department  at TNREGINET Portal.

Step 2 - Under ‘E-services’ category, click on ‘Encumbrance certificate’ and then ‘View EC’.

Step 3 – Update personal and property details like zone, sub-registrar, district, EC start and end date, etc., as mandated on the redirected page.

Step 4 – Enter captcha and click on ‘Search’ and then ‘Apply online’.

Step 5 – In the next window, provide your name and contact details. Then proceed to the payment window.

Step 6 – On the E-payment screen, select a payment mode and pay the requisite fee.

Step 7 - After completion of payment, a transaction ID and bank reference number are generated. After approval from sub-registrar, EC will be generated against the username with a QR code and digital signature glued at the top. Further, the applicant will receive a confirmation message of the same.

The procedure to avail an EC in Tamil Nadu through offline route is as follows –

Step 1 – Visit your nearest Sub-registrar office.

Step 2 – Collect Form 22 of EC. Fill it with your particulars as per requirement.

Step 3 – Submit this form along with property details, title details, and other required documents.

Step 4 – Pay the fees applicable as per the set period of encumbrance.

After submission, the concerned officer will verify the legality of the details, and upon satisfaction, the acknowledgement slip is generated for the applicant.

Individuals must submit the following documents while applying for an EC in Tamil Nadu.

• Property Title deeds
•  Complete details and documents of the property
• Identity proofs
• Property address, survey number, document number
• Copy of any sale deed of the particular property
• Purpose of EC application
• Period of EC required
• If an attorney holder applies, an attested copy of power of attorney is needed

Applicants need to meet the following parameters to qualify for an EC in Tamil Nadu.

• An individual who owns a land
• Someone intending to buy a land
• A person holding authorised signatory or power of attorney

Following are the steps to check the status of EC online –

Step 1- Visit the official portal of TNREGINET.

Step 2 – Scroll to the page’s bottom, and under ‘Encumbrance Certificate’, click on ‘Search/view EC’.

Step 3 – In the next window, checkmark the box against EC will appear on the screen, enter the details and captcha and then click on ‘Search’.

Here are the most common uses of an EC.

• To prove land ownership
• It can be used to avail loans from banks and financial institutions
• The village officer can use this document to update the land records
• This certificate can also be used for land mutation purposes
• Can be used to buy a property

The Encumbrance certificate in Tamil Nadu legalises the ownership of land, thus curbing any land disputes that may arise in future. This article provides you with all the information on EC and procedures to apply it when you have or buy land in Tamil Nadu. Know about both the processes and choose a route at your convenience.