Encumbrance Certificate (EC) in Tamil Nadu: How to View It Free and Apply Online

In short: an encumbrance certificate (EC), called villangam certificate in Tamil, lists the documents registered against a property over a period you choose: sales, mortgages, gifts, leases. In Tamil Nadu you can view EC details free on the TNREGINET portal, and apply online for a certified EC issued by the Sub-Registrar's office. Check it before you pay any advance.

What an EC shows, and what it doesn't

An EC is issued by the Sub-Registrar office that covers the property. It lists the transactions registered for that property during the period you ask for. There are two forms:

Because the EC comes from the registration records, it only shows what was registered. Agreements that were never registered, disputes pending in court and unpaid taxes do not appear on it. That is why an EC is one document in a full title check, not the whole check. Our land documents checklist for Tamil Nadu covers the rest.

View EC details free on TNREGINET

The Tamil Nadu Registration Department's portal, tnreginet.gov.in, offers a free view and download of EC details on its home page. This is the quickest way to check a property's registered history before you go further.

• Open tnreginet.gov.in and choose the free EC view option on the home page.
• Search by property: zone, district, Sub-Registrar office, village and survey number, with the period you want.
• Or search by document: the document number, year and Sub-Registrar office of a registered deed, such as the seller's sale deed.
• Read the list of transactions and download it.

A free view is good for your own checks. Banks and lawyers usually want a certified EC, which you apply for separately.

Apply for a certified EC online

• Register on TNREGINET (or sign in). The portal sends a verification link to your email.
• Go to E-services › Encumbrance Certificate › Search and apply EC.
• Enter the property details and the period, and search. The portal shows the documents it finds.
• Click Apply online, check the details and pay the fee online. You get an SMS when the request is submitted.
• When it's ready, download the digitally signed EC from E-services › Encumbrance Certificate › Request List.

Applied online, a certified EC usually takes two to three days. You can also apply in person at the Sub-Registrar office that covers the property.

What it costs

The fee has three parts: an application fee, a search fee for the first year plus a smaller amount for each further year searched, and an extra fee for the computerised period of records. Published guides quote different amounts for these, so check the current fee under Duty & Fees on TNREGINET before you apply. The longer the period you search, the higher the search fee.

What to check in the EC before you buy

• The chain of owners. The last registered sale should be in the seller's name, and earlier sales should link up without gaps.
• Mortgages. A mortgage (for example, a deposit of title deeds with a bank) should be followed by a registered release or receipt showing it was paid off. If it isn't, ask for the bank's closure letter before you pay.
• The right property. Survey number, extent and boundaries in the EC should match the sale deed, patta and the land you are shown.
• The full period. Ask your lawyer or lender how many years they need covered, and get an EC up to the latest date before registration.
• Anything unexpected: an agreement of sale, a lease or a power of attorney you weren't told about.

After you buy, the EC will show your sale deed. Use it with your deed to transfer the patta to your name.