It is pretty common to encounter the term “encumbrance certificate in Maharashtra” when buying a property or land in Maharashtra. This certificate not only proves your ownership over land but also certifies that it is free of any legal or financial taxes or dues. So it becomes massively crucial for an individual to hold an EC to eliminate any chances of land conflicts in the near future.

An encumbrance certificate is a legal document that certifies land details in terms of ownership, legal and monetary liabilities. It works as a record that the land is free of pending taxes, dues or any legal and financial issues. Hence, a buyer of this property can secure ownership without any legal troubles.

Following are the records of information mentioned on this certificate –

• Name of the property owner
• Property-related transactions and documents
• Name of the parties, volume, book and paper numbers, and other details and dates involved in this transaction
• Property descriptions mentioned in Sales Deed
• Information on a mortgage

An individual looking to obtain an EC in Maharashtra has to avail it through the offline process. Only some states provide online support for EC, which excludes Maharashtra.

Here is a step-by-step guide to obtaining an encumbrance certificate when you buy a land or property in Maharashtra -

Step 1 – To apply, an individual has to visit their respective Sub Registrar office.

Step 2 – Collect the application form for EC (Form 22) from the registrar office.

Step 3 – Next, fill in this form with complete details as required.

Step 4 – Submit this form with a non-judicial stamp paper, the required documents, and the certificate's purpose.

Step 5 – Pay the necessary fees as quoted at the time of submission.

Step 6 –  Then an individual will receive an acknowledgement receipt with an ID.

Note: The EC fees may vary from place to place.

The EC issuance period ranges from 15 to 30 days from the date of an individual’s application. Further, this certificate is issued in regional language, but an additional fee is required for an English translated certificate.

The following documents are required to file an application for EC -

• Applicant’s residence proof
• Identity cards like Aadhaar, PAN and ration cards
• Property address and credentials
• Sales deed copy (any sales deed related to land, latest or old)
• Purpose of application
• EC requirement period
• Copy of power of attorney if applied by a holder of the same

Individuals should meet the following parameters to avail an EC in Maharashtra -

• Applicants should own a land
• Someone who holds a power of attorney

The requisite fees vary from state to state. If you want to get hold of an EC in Maharashtra, you need to pay the amount as quoted by the department of land registry authorities.

The uses of an Encumbrance certificate are as follows –

• To make sure that property or land has a free title.
• Used to avail a loan with their property as collateral must furnish EC to financial institutions.
• Helps to update land or property tax records.
• It helps individuals record their property ownership or transfer of title in the revenue records of local municipal corporations through mutation.

This article above provides all the details to obtain an encumbrance certificate in Maharashtra. As no online EC process is available in Maharashtra, an individual has to take the offline route, which can be time-consuming. Furthermore, there is no specific fee structure as it varies from area to area, so this payment is made as per the fees mentioned by the authorities. Nevertheless, read the process carefully and apply to register the land or property you buy.