A clear indicator of stability in life is ownership of property. Numerous time-taking and mundane steps are taken to find the perfect property. Yet all of this would end up being a wasted effort if the property has legal encumbrances tied to it.
These encumbrances could include mortgages or loans on the property. To be free from such hassles, it is a must for every property owner or prospective property owner in Andhra Pradesh to obtain an Encumbrance Certificate AP (EC).
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What is an Encumbrance Certificate AP?
As stated above, an encumbrance takes in within its ambit any liability or charge existing on a property that could either be monetary or legal. Therefore an Encumbrance Certificate (EC) is a legal document that allows the property owner to know if the property in question has any legal or monetary encumbrances.
In layman’s language, an EC is the proof of single ownership of the property. It states every transaction on the property within a certain period. It can indicate any encumbrances in the form of a mortgage or loan, court order, or legal dispute against the property. An EC obtained in Andhra Pradesh is called an Encumbrance Certificate AP. The EC AP can either be taken from sub-registrar officers or online based on the state government official portal.
Usage of Encumbrance Certificate AP
Significant usage of the Encumbrance certificate in AP is that it acts as a surety for a debt-free and transactional property. Its mere existence makes the job of the owner, seller, and buyer easier. They can freely buy or sell without worrying about legal issues.
In Andhra Pradesh, if one requires a home loan, an EC is a must-have document; otherwise, Banks and other financial lenders won’t provide it. If anyone in AP wishes to use their Provident Fund (PF) account to pay for the property, again, possession of EC is necessary. Even for the mutation process of property, an EC is required.
Last but not the least, for a hassle-free property ownership experience, an EC AP is a prerequisite.
Forms Of Encumbrance Certificate
An Encumbrance Certificate comes in two forms, either Form 15 or Form 16, as issued by the sub-registrar.
Form 15:
The EC AP issued from form 15 states all details concerning the existence of the property’s mortgage, lease, or any other deeds if it is registered under the sub-registrar. This form lays bare all registered property transactions for a particular period. A buyer or creditor may issue such a form for information.
Form 16:
Form 16 is also known as “Nil Encumbrance Certificate” or “No Encumbrance Certificate .”It is given only if no transaction has taken place/no transaction is registered for the sought period.
Documents Needed For Encumbrance Certificate
The documents required for the Encumbrance Certificate are :
- Details of the property and the title deed
- A copy of any property sale deed executed in the past, partition deed/ gift deed/ release deed
- The Deed number
- The Book Number & Date, and
- Applicant’s signature
- The document of property registration
- The document of the applicant’s address proof
Applying For An Encumbrance Certificate AP
Usually, people apply for Encumbrance Certificates AP after registering their properties. Then they make their way to the sub-registrar’s office and issue the Encumbrance Certificate AP. To make it even easier to obtain an EC, some states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, etc., have provisions to apply for an Encumbrance certificate online in AP and receive a computerized EC extract.
In Andhra Pradesh, an online EC application in AP can be made via the IGRS website. The application fee for an EC AP for 30 years or less is Rs 200, while for more than 30 years is Rs 500. The EC application process is not as complex as it seems and is explained below.
Apply for EC AP online:
To apply for an Encumbrance Certificate in AP online, the following steps must be followed-
Step 1
After clicking on the IGRS AP website, click on services. Search for “Encumbrance Certificate” and click on it. An ‘encumbrance Statement’ document will open up on the screen. A legal disclaimer and details on the IGRS AP Encumbrance Certificate are included in this document. After thoroughly reading it, click on the submit button.
Step 2
A ‘Citizen Registration’ form opens. A first-time portal user may not have a login ID and password, so they can register by entering their details like Name, Password, Mobile No. Etc. Once done, verify the captcha code before proceeding.
Step 3
For those who already have a login ID and password assigned, they may proceed by entering their credentials on the ‘Public Online Services’ page. Then enter the required details to get a house online EC Andra Pradesh.
Step 4
Then, Select Encumbrance Certificate and enter the document number, year of registration, and SRO code. Once done, click on the submit button.
Step 5
Now, all the property details will be visible to the applicant. Verify and click next. Now there will be an option to choose between the options of a signed or unsigned Encumbrance Certificate.
Step 6
Select the’ unsigned or Signed certificate’ option. Will then be redirected to a new page.
Step 7
A ‘select all’ option will be visible for an unsigned certificate on the left-hand side of the screen. Click on that. The applicant can check all the property details and click on ‘print’ to download EC for Andhra Pradesh online.
While if the signed certificate is selected, they will receive an OTP on their registered mobile number. Enter the OTP and download the EC.
Encumbrance Certificate Approval
If an EC approval for an application is applied in person at the sub-registrar’s office, it takes about 15-30 days to get the certificate from the date of application. Meanwhile, an online EC Andra Pradesh may be obtained within 2-3 working days after the date of application.
Conclusion
The role of an EC is to reduce monetary or legal burdens on a property owner and save them from future headaches in the form of trials or claims on the property. You can EC apply online or in person as per your need and convenience.