What is CERSAI and why should I search it?

CERSAI is the Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest of India, a Government of India company. Its site says the general public can search the central register online for a prescribed fee. An asset-based search by survey, municipal, plot or flat number shows security interests registered on the property. The fee is Rs 10 plus tax.

How do I check whether a layout is approved?

For the Chennai metropolitan area, CMDA publishes year-wise lists of approved layouts and planning permissions, with the approval number, local body and village. For DTCP and local bodies elsewhere, search the SWP Approved Plan List on onlineppa.tn.gov.in by department, approval type, district and year. Match the approval number on the seller's papers.

Does the Sub-Registrar ask for layout approval?

For the first sale of a plot in a layout, TNREGINET lists a copy of the approval or regularisation order from CMDA or DTCP among the documents to bring. For a layout plot, it also asks for the layout drawing. The Sub-Registrar may ask for an FMB or topo sketch if the extent sold is below 20 cents.

What stamp duty applies to the home loan?

If the loan is secured by a deposit of title deeds, the TNREGINET Duty and Fees table lists stamp duty of 0.5% of the loan amount up to Rs 40,000 and a registration fee of 1% up to Rs 8,000. From 17 August 2026, a deposit of title deeds that follows the first sale of a plot or flat must be registered presenceless.

What if the seller has lost the original parent deed?

TNREGINET's list of documents for registration says that if the original previous registration deed is not found, you must produce a non-traceable certificate issued by the Police Department and the advertisement given in a daily newspaper about the loss. Ask the seller for both before you pay any advance, because a lender will also look for them.

Does a new flat need a completion certificate?

The TNRERA FAQ says Tamil Nadu issues a completion certificate, not an occupancy certificate, under the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019. For a ready flat, ask the builder for the completion certificate, and check the project's approvals and EC on its TNRERA page before the lender releases the money.

Topic guide

Home Loan Legal Check in Tamil Nadu

A home-loan legal check in Tamil Nadu is the lender's review of the title, approvals and charges on a property before it releases the loan. You can run the same checks on official portals before you apply. Download the free Encumbrance Certificate from TNREGINET to trace registered deeds and mortgages since 1975. Match the seller's name and survey number with the patta, A-Register or TSLR on eservices.tn.gov.in, and confirm the land is not poramboke. Check the layout or building approval in CMDA's lists for the Chennai area, or in the Single Window Portal's approved plan list elsewhere. For a new project, check TNRERA. Search CERSAI by survey or door number for security interests filed by lenders, for Rs 10 plus tax. For the mortgage, Tamil Nadu charges stamp duty of 0.5% of the loan, up to Rs 40,000, on a deposit of title deeds.

Definition

Home loan legal check: The title and document scrutiny a bank or housing finance company does before it lends against a property. It covers the chain of title, encumbrances, revenue records, planning approval and existing charges. The checks on this page use only official Tamil Nadu and central portals; a lender's own document list may be longer.

When you need it

Before you pay an advance or sign a sale agreement, so that problems come out before money changes hands. Run the checks again just before registration. The Registration Department advises getting the Encumbrance Certificate as the first step before you decide to buy a property.

Steps

Download the free EC on TNREGINET for the survey number and list every sale and mortgage on it.
Check that each mortgage in the EC has a later receipt or release.
On eservices.tn.gov.in, view the patta (or the TSLR in towns) and confirm the seller holds the exact survey number and extent.
Use Verify Government / Private (Poramboke) Land on the same portal.
Find the layout or building approval: CMDA's Approved Layouts and Online PPA lists for the Chennai area, or the SWP Approved Plan List on onlineppa.tn.gov.in for DTCP and local bodies.
For a flat or plot in a project, check its registration and approvals on rera.tn.gov.in.
Run a CERSAI asset-based search with the survey or municipal number to see security interests registered on the property.
Check the latest property tax receipt and get a no-dues certificate from the local body.

What you need to search

Survey number and subdivision, or town survey number with ward and block
District, taluk, village and Sub-Registrar office
The approval number on the layout or building plan
The TNRERA registration number, for a project
Municipal or door number, plot or flat number and pin code, for CERSAI

Fees

Home Loan Legal Check fee. Source: tnreginet.gov.in, as of 2026-10-22.

Mortgage by deposit of title deeds: stamp duty 0.5% of the loan amount (max Rs 40,000) and registration fee 1% (max Rs 8,000). Simple mortgage: stamp duty 1% (max Rs 50,000) and registration fee 1% (max Rs 15,000). (source: https://tnreginet.gov.in/portal/webHP?requestType=ApplicationRH&actionVal=openDutyAndFee&screenId=114&menuCode=1195008&auditUSFlag=true, as of 2026-10-22. Verify with sub-registrar.)

How to read it

Line up the records. The EC should show an unbroken chain of registered deeds ending in the seller. The patta or TSLR should name the seller for the same survey number and extent. The approval should cover the layout or building you are buying, and the CERSAI search should show no charge in favour of another lender. If any record disagrees, get the reason in writing before you pay.

Red flags

A mortgage in the EC with no release, or a CERSAI entry for another lender
The patta or TSLR is in someone else's name
The land is poramboke or government land
No CMDA, DTCP or local body approval for the layout or building
A project that needs RERA registration but is not on TNRERA
Unpaid property tax, or no no-dues certificate

Questions

What is CERSAI and why should I search it?: CERSAI is the Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest of India, a Government of India company. Its site says the general public can search the central register online for a prescribed fee. An asset-based search by survey, municipal, plot or flat number shows security interests registered on the property. The fee is Rs 10 plus tax.
How do I check whether a layout is approved?: For the Chennai metropolitan area, CMDA publishes year-wise lists of approved layouts and planning permissions, with the approval number, local body and village. For DTCP and local bodies elsewhere, search the SWP Approved Plan List on onlineppa.tn.gov.in by department, approval type, district and year. Match the approval number on the seller's papers.
Does the Sub-Registrar ask for layout approval?: For the first sale of a plot in a layout, TNREGINET lists a copy of the approval or regularisation order from CMDA or DTCP among the documents to bring. For a layout plot, it also asks for the layout drawing. The Sub-Registrar may ask for an FMB or topo sketch if the extent sold is below 20 cents.
What stamp duty applies to the home loan?: If the loan is secured by a deposit of title deeds, the TNREGINET Duty and Fees table lists stamp duty of 0.5% of the loan amount up to Rs 40,000 and a registration fee of 1% up to Rs 8,000. From 17 August 2026, a deposit of title deeds that follows the first sale of a plot or flat must be registered presenceless.
What if the seller has lost the original parent deed?: TNREGINET's list of documents for registration says that if the original previous registration deed is not found, you must produce a non-traceable certificate issued by the Police Department and the advertisement given in a daily newspaper about the loss. Ask the seller for both before you pay any advance, because a lender will also look for them.
Does a new flat need a completion certificate?: The TNRERA FAQ says Tamil Nadu issues a completion certificate, not an occupancy certificate, under the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019. For a ready flat, ask the builder for the completion certificate, and check the project's approvals and EC on its TNRERA page before the lender releases the money.

Sources

TNREGINET - Registration Department, Tamil Nadu (Search Encumbrance Certificate)
Fee source — as of 2026-10-22

Last reviewed 22 Oct 2026 by LawyerDesk Team

Quality check: 9 of 6 required sections filled. General information only, not legal advice.

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