Buying land or property comes with lots of paperwork but can also come with various legal entanglements that should be checked beforehand. The best way to curb such issues in Kerala is by availing an encumbrance certificate. This document highlights one’s ownership details of particular land or property in Kerala.

So now the question arises how to avail it? It involves both online and offline processes, which we will talk about in a bit. However, let’s know what EC is beforehand.

An encumbrance certificate breaks down important details on ownership and legal and monetary liabilities of a particular property purchased by an individual. It also consists of unpaid dues, taxes, and transactions made in a particular period. It ensures the ownership of a land is secured from any legal threats.

The following details are mentioned on an encumbrance certificate –

• Name of the property owner
• Details in a sales deed (in case of transferred or gifted deeds)
• Transactions details of the land made in a particular year
• Documents related to the property
• Mortgage details (if bought on loan)

Individuals can avail an encumbrance certificate in Kerala online or by visiting their nearest Sub-registrar’s office.

Follow the procedures mentioned below to grab hold of an EC for land bought in Kerala.

Following is the procedure to avail EC online –

Step 1 – Visit the official website of the Registration department of Kerala.

Step 2 – Under ‘Certificates’, click on ‘Encumbrance certificate’, and then the ‘Submit application for EC’ option.

Step 3 – Update details of property location as directed and fill out your personal details, document of title deed information.

Step 4 – In the next window, enter applicant details and save it by clicking ‘Save and next button’.

Step 5 – Enter EC period and then click on ‘Calculate the fee’.

Step 6 – After the fee is displayed click on ‘Declaration’ and ‘Submit the application’.

After submission, a pop window appears and clicking on it takes you to an acknowledgement window. One can print this acknowledgement slip or note down the transaction ID to check status or future reference.

The procedure to avail EC in Kerala through offline route is as follows –

Step 1 – Visit your nearest Sub-registrar’s 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 inspect to verify the details, and upon satisfaction, the acknowledgement slip will be generated for the applicant.

Applicants can check the status of EC online in the following steps –

Step 1 - Visit the official website of the Kerala Registration Department.

Step 2 - Under the ‘Certificate’ menu, select ‘Encumbrance Certificate’ and then the ‘EC Status’ option.

Step 3 - A prompt module asking ‘Transaction ID’   and captcha code will appear. Just enter the details and click on ‘Check status’ to know your EC application status.

Step 4 - If the status displays ‘Certificate Issued’, click on ‘Download Certificate’ to get your digital certificate online.

Following are the uses of an encumbrance certificate.

• Necessary to prove land ownership
• Can be used to avail loans from banks and financial institutions
• The village officer can use this document to update the land record
• This certificate can also be used for land mutation purposes
• An individual have to furnish this certificate, if you want to withdraw PF to construct or purchase a property

The above article throws light on EC, and its procedures through which you can avail encumbrance certificate in Kerala. The online process has made this process of holding this important document seamless. Now it’s upon your preference to choose the route to avail the ownership documents of your purchased land.