Encumbrance Certificate (EC) explained

An EC reveals every registered transaction on a property. Learn what Form 15 vs Form 16 mean and how far back you should check.

Registration · 5 min read · By Sanad Team

What is an EC?

An Encumbrance Certificate lists every registered transaction on a property — sales, gifts, mortgages and partitions — recorded at the Sub-Registrar's office through Kaveri.

Form 15 vs Form 16

• Form 15 — there *are* registered entries in the period you asked for.
• Form 16 (nil EC) — there are *no* registered entries in that period.

How far back should you check?

For a confident purchase, pull an EC covering the last 30 years. This captures the full chain of mortgages and transfers.

What to look for

• Any active mortgage that has not been released
• Multiple sales of the same property in a short window
• Gaps in the chain where a transfer is missing

A certified EC is essential evidence in any property due-diligence file.

Search Karnataka property records or request assistance on SANAD →