Home India Reserve Bank of India Master Circular – Housing Finance...
Date: 2025-04-01 Category: Not Applicable State: Union Government Country: India

Master Circular – Housing Finance

Issued by Reserve Bank of India · Not Applicable

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**Report on Reserve Bank of India Master Circular on Housing Finance** **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Master Circular DOR.CRE.REC.No.1208.12.001/2025-26, dated April 01, 2025, pertaining to Housing Finance. This Master Circular consolidates and updates existing guidelines and instructions issued to banks concerning housing finance up to March 31, 2025. It does not introduce new instructions or guidelines but rather compiles previous circulars for clarity and ease of reference. The key finding is that the circular aims to provide a comprehensive framework for Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs) regarding their lending practices in the housing sector, ensuring adherence to regulatory norms and promoting responsible lending. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide a detailed overview of the RBI Master Circular on Housing Finance, based solely on the provided text. It aims to inform affected parties about the scope, key provisions, and implications of this circular. **3. Policy Overview:** This Master Circular consolidates the instructions and guidelines issued to banks until April 01, 2024, relating to Housing Finance as outlined in the Master Circular DOR.CRE.REC.No.0708.12.001/2024-25 dated April 02, 2024. Core Objective(s): * To consolidate the framework of rules, regulations, and clarifications on Housing Finance issued to banks by the Reserve Bank of India. * To ensure that bank credit is used for production, construction activities, and not for activities connected with speculation in real estate. **4. Background and Rationale:** This is an updating Master Circular. The rationale for this updated Master Circular is to compile all existing instructions and guidelines related to housing finance into a single, easily accessible document, thereby ensuring clarity and facilitating compliance for Scheduled Commercial Banks. The circular's consolidation efforts suggest a need for a readily available and unified reference point for existing regulations in the housing finance sector. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This Master Circular consolidates existing instructions. It does not contain new instructions or guidelines. Therefore, this section will detail the main components, rules, and actions mandated by the provided text as a whole, as if it were a new policy. * **Scope of Application:** The circular is applicable to all Scheduled Commercial Banks, excluding Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). * **Land Acquisition:** Bank finance can be granted for the purchase of a plot, provided the borrower declares intent to construct a house on the plot within a timeframe specified by the bank. * **Construction of Building/Ready-Built House:** * Banks may grant loans to individuals for purchase/construction of dwelling units and repairs to damaged units. * Finance can be extended for a second house for self-occupation or for a house to be rented out due to job postings or employer-provided accommodation. * Loans can be provided to purchase an old house where the borrower is currently a tenant. * Finance is allowed for slum improvement schemes, either directly to slum dwellers with government guarantees or indirectly through state governments. * **Conditions Regarding Unauthorized Construction:** Banks are instructed to adhere to specific conditions to prevent unauthorized construction, including obtaining sanctioned plans, affidavits from borrowers, and certifications from bank-appointed architects. * **Supplementary Finance:** Banks may consider additional finance for alterations, additions, or repairs to existing properties, subject to certain conditions. * **Prohibited Financing:** Banks should not finance construction of buildings meant purely for government offices or projects undertaken by public sector entities not registered under the Companies Act, unless they are run on commercial lines. * **Lending to Housing Intermediary Agencies:** * Finance can be extended to public agencies for land acquisition and development, provided it is part of a complete project with infrastructure development. * Term loans may be granted to housing finance institutions and state-level housing boards, subject to performance and recovery considerations. * Credit to private builders is allowed on commercial terms for specific projects, but not for land acquisition. * **Quantum of Loan:** Banks should follow specific Loan to Value (LTV) ratios and Risk Weights (RWs) for different categories of housing loans. Stamp duty and registration charges can be included in the cost of the property for calculating LTV ratios for houses costing less than Rs. 10 lakh. * **Innovative Housing Loan Products:** Disbursal of housing loans should be closely linked to construction stages. Upfront disbursal is discouraged for incomplete projects, except those sponsored by government/statutory authorities with a good track record. * **Rate of Interest:** Banks must charge interest on housing finance as per the Master Direction Reserve Bank of India Interest Rate on Advances Directions, 2016, as amended. * **Approvals from Statutory/Regulatory Authorities:** Borrowers must obtain prior permission from relevant authorities for real estate projects before loan disbursements. * **Disclosure Requirements:** Builders must disclose the names of banks to which the property is mortgaged in promotional materials and provide No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for property sales. * **Exposure to Real Estate:** Banks must establish comprehensive prudential norms regarding real estate loan limits, security, and repayment schedules. * **Housing Loans under Priority Sector:** Housing loans are subject to instructions on Priority Sector Lending. * **Financing of Affordable Housing/Issue of Long-Term Bonds:** Banks can issue long-term bonds to raise resources for affordable housing, subject to specified conditions. * **Fair Lending Practices:** Banks should follow guidelines on the release of property documents, disclosure of penal interest, and fair practices code for lenders. * **Additional Guidelines:** Banks are advised to adhere to the National Building Code (NBC) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience is all Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs). Secondary stakeholders include: * Housing Finance Institutions * State Level Housing Boards * Private Builders * Home Loan Borrowers * Government and Statutory Authorities **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Reserve Bank of India is the primary regulatory body. Scheduled Commercial Banks are responsible for implementing the guidelines. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The circular is effective as of April 01, 2025. Banks are expected to incorporate these guidelines into their internal policies and procedures. No specific timelines are given for implementation beyond the effective date, but ongoing compliance is expected. * The Department of Regulation, Central Office of the RBI oversees and monitors compliance. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcomes of this Master Circular, primarily focused on the consolidation of information, include: * Improved clarity and accessibility of housing finance regulations for Scheduled Commercial Banks. * Enhanced compliance with RBI guidelines, leading to more responsible and standardized lending practices. * Reduced risk of regulatory misinterpretation and inconsistencies in implementation. * Facilitation of a more robust and transparent housing finance sector. **9. Conclusion:** The RBI Master Circular on Housing Finance is a significant document for Scheduled Commercial Banks, providing a consolidated framework for their lending activities in the housing sector. While this circular does not introduce new policies, its consolidation of existing guidelines and instructions is expected to promote better understanding, compliance, and stability in the housing finance market. This, in turn, should facilitate a more efficient and transparent lending environment for both banks and borrowers.

Key Entities Referenced

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA: The issuing authority of the master circular. RBI20252616: Reference number associated with the Reserve Bank of India. DOR.CRE.REC.No.1208.12.001202526: Document number of the master circular. April 01, 2025: Date of the master circular. All Scheduled Commercial Banks excluding RRBs: The entities to whom the master circular is addressed. Master Circular Housing Finance: Subject of the communication. DOR.CRE.REC.No.0708.12.001202425: Reference to the previous Master Circular. April 02, 2024: Date of the previous Master Circular. April 01, 2024: Date until which guidelines were consolidated in the previous master circular. March 31, 2025: Date until which the current Master Circular consolidates instructions. Vaibhav Chaturvedi: Chief General Manager. Department of Regulation, Central Office, Central Office Building, 12th 13th Floor, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400001: Address of the department. Sections 21 and 35 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949: The legal basis for the statutory directive issued by the Reserve Bank. Regional Rural Banks: Banks excluded from the scope of application. RBI guidelines: Guidelines to be taken into account by banks. NABARD: Refinancing institutions Companies Act: Act under which public sector undertakings are registered. State Police Housing Corporation: Corporation set up by Government. Master Circular Bank Finance to NonBanking Financial Companies NBFCs dated April 1, 2025: Refers to another master circular by RBI Commercial Real Estate: CRE DBOD.BP.BC.No.4208.12.015200910 dated September 9, 2009: Circular on Guidelines on classification of exposures as commercial real estate CRE exposure DBOD.BP.BC.No.10408.12.015201213 dated June 21, 2013: Circular on Housing Sector: New subsector CRE Residential Housing within CRE Rationalisation of provisioning, riskweight and LTV ratios October 16, 2020: Date on which individual housing loans were sanctioned March 31, 2023: Date until which individual housing loans were sanctioned DOR.No.BP.BC.2408.12.015202021 dated October 16, 2020: Circular on Individual Housing Loans Rationalisation of Risk Weights Reserve Bank of India Interest Rate on Advances Directions, 2016: Master Direction regarding rate of interest DOR.MCS.REC.3201.01.003202324 dated August 18, 2023: Circular on Reset of Floating Interest Rate on Equated Monthly Instalments EMI based Personal Loans Honble High Court of Judicature at Bombay: Court which made observations regarding finance to housing development projects Priority Sector Lending: Instructions regarding priority sector lending targets DBR.BP.BC.No.2508.12.014201415 dated July 15, 2014: Circular on Issue of Long term Bonds by Banks Financing of Infrastructure and Affordable Housing DoR.MCS.REC.3801.01.001202324 dated September 13, 2023: Circular on Responsible Lending Conduct Release of Movable Immovable Property Documents on Repayment Settlement of Personal Loans DoR.MCS.REC.2801.01.0012023 24 dated August 18, 2023: Circular on Fair Lending Practice Penal Charges in Loan Accounts Master Circular Loans and Advances Statutory and Other Restrictions dated July 01, 2015: Master Circular on fair practices code for lenders DOR.STR.REC.1313.03.00202425: Circular on Key Facts Statement April 15, 2024: Date of KFS circular National Building Code: NBC Bureau of Indian Standards: BIS National Disaster Management Authority: NDMA Delhi High Court: Court that observed on unauthorized construction. Kalyan Sanstha Welfare Organisation: Name of organisation Union of India: Name of country Slum Clearance Boards: Public agencies
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भारतीय �रज़वर् बैंक RESERVE BANK OF INDIA RBI/2025-26/16 DOR.CRE.REC.No.12/08.12.001/2025-26 April 01, 2025 All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs) Dear Sir/Madam, Master Circular – Housing Finance Please refer to the Master Circular DOR.CRE.REC.No.07/08.12.001/2024-25 dated April 02, 2024 consolidating the instructions / guidelines issued to banks till April 01, 2024 relating to Housing Finance. Attached is the revised Master Circular, updated to reflect all instructions issued upto March 31, 2025 on the above matter, as listed in the Annex. It may be noted that this Master Circular only consolidates all instructions on the above matter issued up to March 31, 2025 and does not contain any new instructions/guidelines. Yours faithfully, (Vaibhav Chaturvedi) Chief General Manager Encl: as above िविनयमन िवभाग, केंद्रीय कायार्लय, केंद्रीय कायार्लय भवन, 12वी/ं 13वी ं मंिज़ल, शहीद भगत िसंह मागर्, फोटर्, मुंबई - 400001 टेलीफोन/ Tel No: 22661602, 22601000 फै�/ Fax No: 022-2270 5691 Department of Regulation, Central Office, Central Office Building, 12th/ 13th Floor, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Fort, Mumbai – 400001 िहंदी आसान है, इसका प्रयोग बढ़ाइएCONTENTS Sr.No. Particulars Page No A Purpose 3 B Classification 3 C Previous instructions consolidated 3 D Scope of Application 3 1 Introduction 4 2 Various Regulations 4 3 Quantum of Loan 10 Innovative Housing Loan Products – Upfront Disbursal of 11 4 Housing Loans 5 Rate of Interest 12 6 Approval from Statutory/Regulatory Authorities 12 7 Disclosure Requirements 12 8 Exposure to Real Estate 13 9 Housing Loans under Priority Sector 13 Financing of Affordable Housing- Issue of long-term bonds 13 10 by banks 11 Fair Lending Practices 13 12 Additional Guidelines 14 Annex: Housing Finance Circulars 15 2Master Circular – Housing Finance A. Purpose To consolidate framework of rules/ regulations and clarification on Housing Finance issued to banks by Reserve Bank of India from time to time. B. Classification A statutory directive issued by the Reserve Bank in exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 21 and 35 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. C. Previous instructions consolidated This Master Circular consolidates and updates all the instructions contained in Circulars listed in the appendix and clarifications issued. D. Scope of Application Applicable to all Scheduled Commercial Banks, excluding Regional Rural Banks. 31. INTRODUCTION Banks, with their vast branch network throughout the length and breadth of the country, occupy a very strategic position in the financial system and have an important role to play in providing credit to the housing sector. 2. VARIOUS REGULATIONS While formulating their policies, banks have to take into account the following RBI guidelines and ensure that bank credit is used for production, construction activities and not for activities connected with speculation in real estate. (A) ACQUISITION OF LAND Bank finance can be granted only for purchase of a plot, provided a declaration is obtained from the borrower that he intends to construct a house on the said plot, with the help of bank finance or otherwise, within such period as may be laid down by the banks themselves. (B) CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING / READY-BUILT HOUSE (i) Banks may grant loans to individuals for purchase/construction of dwelling unit per family and loans for repairs to the damaged dwelling units of families. (ii) Banks may extend finance to a person who already owns a house in town/village where he resides, for buying/ constructing a second house in the same or other town/ village for the purpose of self-occupation. (iii) Banks may extend finance for purchase of a house by a borrower who proposes to let it out on rental basis on account of his posting outside the headquarters or because he has been provided accommodation by his employer. (iv) Banks may extend finance to a person who proposes to buy an old house where he is presently residing as a tenant. (v) Banks may finance for construction meant for improving the conditions in slum areas for which credit may be extended directly to the slum-dwellers on the guarantee of the Government, or indirectly to them through the State Governments. (vi) Banks may provide credit for slum improvement schemes to be implemented by Slum Clearance Boards and other public agencies. 4(vii) Banks are advised to also adhere to the following conditions, in the light of the observations of Delhi High Court on unauthorized construction: (a) In cases where the applicant owns a plot/land and approaches the banks/FIs for a credit facility to construct a house, a copy of the sanctioned plan by competent authority in the name of a person applying for such credit facility must be obtained by the Banks/FIs before sanctioning the home loan. (b) An affidavit-cum-undertaking must be obtained from the person applying for such credit facility that he shall not violate the sanctioned plan, construction shall be strictly as per the sanctioned plan and it shall be the sole responsibility of the executants to obtain completion certificate within 3 months of completion of construction, failing which the bank shall have the power and the authority to recall the entire loan with interest, costs and other usual bank charges. (c) An Architect appointed by the bank must also certify at various stages of construction of building that the construction of the building is strictly as per sanctioned plan and shall also certify at a particular point of time that the completion certificate of the building issued by the competent authority has been obtained. (d) In cases where the applicant approaches the bank/FIs for a credit facility to purchase a built up house/flat, it should be mandatory for him to declare by way of an affidavit-cum-undertaking that the built up property has been constructed as per the sanctioned plan and/or building bye-laws and as far as possible has a completion certificate also. (e) An Architect appointed by the bank must also certify before disbursement of the loan that the built up property is strictly as per sanctioned plan and/or building bye- laws. (f) No loan should be given in respect of those properties which fall in the category of unauthorized colonies unless and until they have been regularized and development and other charges paid. (g) No loan should also be given in respect of properties meant for residential use but which the applicant intends to use for commercial purposes and declares so while applying for loan. 5(viii) Supplementary Finance (a) Banks may consider requests for additional finance within the overall ceiling for carrying out alterations/ additions/repairs to the house/flat already financed by them. (b) In the case of individuals who might have raised funds for construction/ acquisition of accommodation from other sources and need supplementary finance, banks may extend such finance after obtaining paripassu or second mortgage charge over the property mortgaged in favour of other lenders and/or against such other security, as they may deem appropriate. (c) Banks may consider for grant of finance to – i. the bodies constituted for undertaking repairs to houses, and ii. the owners of building/house/flat, whether occupied by themselves or by tenants, to meet the need-based requirements for their repairs/additions, after satisfying themselves regarding the estimated cost (for which requisite certificate should be obtained from an Engineer / Architect, wherever necessary) and obtaining such security as deemed appropriate. (ix) Bank finance should, however, not be granted for the following: (a) Banks should not grant finance for construction of buildings meant purely for Government/Semi-Government offices, including Municipal and Panchayat offices. However, banks may grant loans for activities, which will be refinanced by institutions like NABARD. (b) Projects undertaken by public sector entities which are not corporate bodies (i.e. public sector undertakings which are not registered under Companies Act or which are not Corporations established under the relevant statute) may not be financed by banks. Even in respect of projects undertaken by corporate bodies, as defined above, banks should satisfy themselves that the project is run on commercial lines and that bank finance is not in lieu of or to substitute budgetary resources envisaged for the project. The loan could, however, supplement budgetary resources if such supplementing was contemplated in the project design. Thus, in the case of a housing project, where the project is run on commercial lines, and the Government is interested in promoting the project either for the benefit of the weaker sections of the society or 6otherwise, and a part of the project cost is met by the Government through subsidies made available and/or contributions to the capital of the institutions taking up the project, the bank finance should be restricted to an amount arrived at after reducing from the total project cost the amount of subsidy/capital contribution receivable from the Government and any other resources proposed to be made available by the Government. (c) Banks had, in the past, sanctioned term loans to Corporations set up by Government like State Police Housing Corporation, for construction of residential quarters for allotment to employees where the loans were envisaged to be repaid out of budgetary allocations. As these projects cannot be considered to be run on commercial lines, it would not be in order for banks to grant loans to such projects. (C) LENDING TO HOUSING INTERMEDIARY AGENCIES (i) Financing of Land Acquisition (a) In view of the need to increase the availability of land and house sites for increasing the housing stock in the country, banks may extend finance to public agencies and not private builders for acquisition and development of land, provided it is a part of the complete project, including development of infrastructure such as water systems, drainage, roads, provision of electricity, etc. Such credit may be extended by way of term loans. The project should be completed as early as possible and, in any case, within three years, so as to ensure quick re-cycling of bank funds for optimum results. If the project covers construction of houses, credit extended therefor in respect of individual beneficiaries should be on the same terms and conditions as stipulated for financing the beneficiary directly. (b) Banks should have a Board approved policy in place for valuation of properties including collaterals accepted for their exposures and that valuation should be done by professionally qualified independent valuers. (c) As regards the valuation of land for the purpose of financing of land acquisition as also land secured as collateral, banks may be guided as under: (i) Banks may extend finance to public agencies and not to private builders for acquisition and development of land, provided it is a part of the complete project, including development of infrastructure such as water systems, drainage, roads, 7provision of electricity, etc. In such limited cases where land acquisition can be financed, the finance is to be limited to the acquisition price (current price) plus development cost. The valuation of such land as prime security should be limited to the current market price. (ii) Wherever land is accepted as collateral, valuation of such land should be at the current market price only. (ii) Lending to Housing Finance Institutions Banks may grant term loans to housing finance institutions taking into account (long- term) debt-equity ratio, track record, recovery performance and other relevant factors including the provisions of Master Circular - Bank Finance to Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) dated April 1, 2025, as amended from time to time. (iii) Lending to Housing Boards and Other Agencies Banks may extend term loans to state level housing boards and other public agencies. However, in order to develop a healthy housing finance system, while doing so, the banks must not only keep in view the past performance of these agencies in the matter of recovery from the beneficiaries but they should also stipulate that the Boards will ensure prompt and regular recovery of loan instalments from the beneficiaries. (iv) Term Loans to Private Builders a. In view of the important role played by professional builders as providers of construction services in the housing field, especially where land is acquired and developed by State Housing Boards and other public agencies, commercial banks may extend credit to private builders on commercial terms by way of loans linked to each specific project. b. Banks however, are not permitted to extend fund based or non-fund based facilities to private builders for acquisition of land even as part of a housing project. c. The period of credit for loans extended by banks to private builders may be decided by banks themselves based on their commercial judgment subject to usual safeguards and after obtaining such security, as banks may deem appropriate. 8d. Such credit may be extended to builders of repute, employing professionally qualified personnel. It should be ensured, through close monitoring, that no part of such funds is used for any speculation in land. e. Care should also be taken to see that prices charged from the ultimate beneficiaries do not include any speculative element, that is, prices should be based only on the documented price of land, the actual cost of construction and a reasonable profit margin. (v) Terms and Conditions for Lending to Housing Intermediary Agencies a. In order to enhance the flow of resources to housing sector, term loans may be granted by banks to housing intermediary agencies against the direct loans sanctioned/ proposed to be sanctioned by the latter, irrespective of the per borrower size of the loan extended by these agencies. b. Banks can grant term loans to housing intermediary agencies against the direct loans sanctioned/proposed to be sanctioned by them to Non-Resident Indians also. However, banks should ensure that housing finance intermediary agencies being financed by them are authorised by RBI to grant housing loans to NRIs as all housing finance intermediaries are not authorised by RBI to provide housing finance to NRIs. (vi) Adherence to guidelines on Commercial Real Estate (CRE) exposure Lending to housing intermediary agencies will be subject to the circular DBOD.BP.BC.No.42/08.12.015/2009-10 dated September 9, 2009 on ‘Guidelines on classification of exposures as commercial real estate (CRE) exposure’ and the circular DBOD.BP.BC.No.104/08.12.015/2012-13 dated June 21, 2013 on ‘Housing Sector: New sub-sector CRE (Residential Housing) within CRE & Rationalisation of provisioning, risk-weight and LTV ratios’. 93. QUANTUM OF LOAN (a) While deciding the quantum of loan to be granted as housing finance, banks should abide by the following Loan to Value (LTV) and Risk Weights (RWs): Category of Loan LTV Ratio (%) Risk Weight (%) (a) Individual Housing Loans < 80 35 Upto ₹ 30 lakh > 80 and < 90 50 Above ₹ 30 lakh & upto ₹ 75 lakh < 80 35 Above ₹ 75 lakh < 75 50 (b) CRE – RH NA 75 As a counter cyclical measure, for Individual Housing Loans sanctioned on or after October 16, 2020 and up to March 31, 2023, the risk weights shall be as per the circular DOR.No.BP.BC.24/08.12.015/2020-21 dated October 16, 2020 on ‘Individual Housing Loans – Rationalisation of Risk Weights’. The risk weights are as under - LTV Ratio (%) Risk Weight (%) ≤ 80 35 > 80 and ≤ 90 50 (b) In order to have uniformity in the practices adopted for deciding the value of the house property while sanctioning housing loans, banks should not include stamp duty, registration and other documentation charges in the cost of the housing property they finance so that the effectiveness of LTV norms is not diluted. (c) However, in cases where the cost of the house/dwelling units does not exceed Rs.10 lakh, bank may add stamp duty, registration and other documentation charges to the cost of the house/dwelling unit for the purpose of calculating LTV ratio. 104. INNOVATIVE HOUSING LOAN PRODUCTS – UPFRONT DISBURSAL OF HOUSING LOANS (a) It has been observed that some banks have introduced certain innovative Housing Loan Schemes in association with developers / builders, e.g., upfront disbursal of sanctioned individual housing loans to the builders without linking the disbursals to various stages of construction of housing project, Interest/EMI on the housing loan availed of by the individual borrower being serviced by the builders during the construction period/ specified period, etc. This might include signing of tripartite agreement between the bank, the builder and the buyer of the housing unit. These loans products are popularly known by various names like 80:20, 75:25 schemes. (b) Such housing loan products are likely to expose the banks as well as their home loan borrowers to additional risks e.g., in case of dispute between individual borrowers and developers/builders, default/ delayed payment of interest/ EMI by the developer/ builder during the agreed period on behalf of the borrower, non-completion of the project on time etc. Further, any delayed payments by developers/ builders on behalf of individual borrowers to banks may lead to lower credit rating/ scoring of such borrowers by credit information companies (CICs) as information about servicing of loans get passed on to the CICs on a regular basis. In cases, where bank loans are also disbursed upfront on behalf of their individual borrowers in a lump-sum to builders/ developers without any linkage to stages of constructions, banks run disproportionately higher exposures with concomitant risks of diversion of funds. (c) Disbursal of housing loans sanctioned to individuals should be closely linked to the stages of construction of the housing project / houses and upfront disbursal should not be made in cases of incomplete / under-construction / green field housing projects. (d) However, in cases of projects sponsored by Government/Statutory Authorities, banks may disburse the loans as per the payment stages prescribed by such authorities, even where payments sought from house buyers are not linked to the stages of constructions, provided such authorities have no past history of non- completion of projects. (e) It is emphasized that banks while introducing any kind of product should take into account the customer suitability and appropriateness issues and also ensure that the 11borrowers/ customers are made fully aware of the risks and liabilities under such products. 5. RATE OF INTEREST (a) Banks should charge interest on housing finance granted by them in accordance with the provisions contained in the Master Direction - Reserve Bank of India (Interest Rate on Advances) Directions, 2016, as amended from time to time. (b) Banks shall ensure adherence to the instructions issued vide Circular DOR.MCS.REC.32/01.01.003/2023-24 dated August 18, 2023 on ‘Reset of Floating Interest Rate on Equated Monthly Instalments (EMI) based Personal Loans’. A set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) providing clarifications related to implementation of the circular has been uploaded in the FAQs section of the RBI website. 6. APPROVALS FROM STATUTORY/ REGULATORY AUTHORITIES While appraising loan proposals involving real estate, banks should ensure that the borrowers should have obtained prior permission from government / local governments / other statutory authorities for the project, wherever required. In order that the loan approval process is not hampered on account of this, while the proposals could be sanctioned in normal course, the disbursements should be made only after the borrower has obtained requisite clearances from the government authorities. 7. DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS In view of the observations of Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Bombay, while granting finance to specific housing / development projects, banks are advised to stipulate as a part of the terms and conditions that: (a) the builder / developer / company would disclose in the Pamphlets / Brochures etc., the name(s) of the bank(s) to which the property is mortgaged. (b) the builder / developer / company would append the information relating to mortgage while publishing advertisement of a particular scheme in newspapers / magazines etc. (c) the builder / developer / company would indicate in their pamphlets / brochures, that they would provide No Objection Certificate (NOC) / permission of the mortgagee bank for sale of flats / property, if required. 12(d) Banks are advised to ensure compliance of the above terms and conditions and funds should not be released unless the builder/developer/company fulfils the above requirements. (e) The above-mentioned provisions will be mutatis-mutandis, applicable to Commercial Real Estate also. 8. EXPOSURE TO REAL ESTATE Banks are well advised to frame comprehensive prudential norms relating to the ceiling on the total amount of real estate loans, single/group exposure limit for such loans, margins, security, repayment schedule and availability of supplementary finance and the policy should be approved by the bank’s board. While framing the bank’s policy the guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank should be taken into account. 9. HOUSING LOANS UNDER PRIORITY SECTOR The grant of housing loan for the purpose of the priority sector lending targets including reporting requirements will additionally be subject to the instructions on “Priority Sector Lending” as amended from time to time. 10. FINANCING OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING-ISSUE OF LONG-TERM BONDS BY BANKS Banks can issue long-term bonds with a minimum maturity of seven years to raise resources for lending to affordable housing subject to the conditions mentioned in circular DBR.BP.BC.No.25/08.12.014/2014-15 dated July 15, 2014 on ‘Issue of Long term Bonds by Banks- Financing of Infrastructure and Affordable Housing’, and related circulars on the subject1. 11. FAIR LENDING PRACTICES (a) It has been observed that banks follow divergent practices in release of movable / immovable property documents leading to customer grievances and disputes. In this regard banks should follow the guidelines issued vide circular DoR.MCS.REC.38/01.01.001/2023-24 dated September 13, 2023 on ‘Responsible 1 Circular DBR.BP.BC.No.50/08.12.014/2014-15 dated November 27, 2014, circular DBR.BP.BC.No.98/08.12.014/2014-15 dated June 01, 2015 and circular DOR.No.BP.BC.41/08.12.014/2019-20 dated March 17, 2020. 13Lending Conduct – Release of Movable / Immovable Property Documents on Repayment/ Settlement of Personal Loans’. (b) To ensure reasonableness and transparency in disclosure of penal interest, banks should follow the guidelines issued vide circular DoR.MCS.REC.28/01.01.001/2023- 24 dated August 18, 2023 on ‘Fair Lending Practice - Penal Charges in Loan Accounts’. A set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) providing clarifications related to implementation of the guidelines on penal charges has been uploaded in the FAQs section of the RBI website. (c) Banks should follow the guidelines on fair practices code for lenders as indicated in para 2.5 of Master Circular- Loans and Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions dated July 01, 2015 as amended from time to time. (d) Banks shall comply with the instructions contained in the circular DOR.STR.REC.13/13.03.00/2024-25 on ‘Key Facts Statement (KFS) for Loans & Advances’ dated April 15, 2024, as amended from time to time 12. ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES It is advised that banks should adhere to the National Building Code (NBC) formulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in view of the importance of safety of buildings especially against natural disasters. Banks may consider this aspect for incorporation in their loan policies. Banks should also adopt the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines and suitably incorporate them as part of their loan policies, procedures and documentation. 14Annex List of Circulars consolidated by Master Circular on Housing Finance Sl. Circular No. Date Subject 1. DOR.STR.REC.13/13.03.00/2024-25 15.04.2024 Key Facts Statement (KFS) for Loans & Advances 2. DoR.MCS.REC.38/01.01.001/2023-24 13.09.2023 Responsible Lending Conduct – Release of Movable / Immovable Property Documents on Repayment/ Settlement of Personal1 Loans 3. DOR.MCS.REC.32/01.01.003/2023-24 18.08.2023 Reset of Floating Interest Rate on Equated Monthly Instalments (EMI) based Personal Loans 4. DoR.MCS.REC.28/01.01.001/2023-24 18.08.2023 Fair Lending Practice - Penal Charges in Loan Accounts 5. DBR.No.Dir.BC.10/13.03.00/2015-16 01.07.2015 Master Circular- Loans and Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions 6. DOR.CRE.REC.13/08.12.015/2022-23 08.04.2022 Individual Housing Loans – Rationalisation of Risk Weights 7. DOR.No.BP.BC.24/08.12.015/2020-21 16.10.2020 Individual Housing Loans – Rationalisation of Risk Weights 8. DOR.No.BP.BC.41/08.12.014/2019-20 17.03.2020 Issue of Long Term Bonds by Banks – Financing of Infrastructure and Affordable Housing 9. DBR.BP.BC.No.72/08.12.015/2016-17 07.06.2017 Individual Housing Loans: Rationalisation of Risk-Weights and Loan to Value (LTV) Ratios 10. DBR.BP.BC.No. 44/08.12.015/2015-16 08.10.2015 Individual Housing Loans: Rationalisation of Risk-Weights and LTV Ratios 11. DBR.BP.BC.No.98/08.12.014/2014-15 01.06.2015 Issue of Long Term Bonds by banks for Financing of Infrastructure and Affordable Housing – Cross Holding 12. DBR.BP.BC.No.50/08.12.014/2014-15 27.11.2014 Issue of Long Term Bonds by Banks – Financing of Infrastructure and Affordable Housing 13. DBR.BP.BC.No.74/08.12.015/2014-15 05.03.2015 Housing Loan: Review of Instructions 14. DBR.BP.BC.No.50/08.12.014/2014-15 27.11.2014 Issue of Long Term Bonds by Banks- Financing of Infrastructure and Affordable Housing 15. DBR.BP.BC.No.25/08.12.014/2014-15 15.07.2014 Issue of Long Term Bonds by Banks- Financing of Infrastructure and Affordable Housing 16. DBOD.BP,BC.No.51/08.12.015/2013-14 03.09.2013 Innovative Housing Loan Products- Upfront Disbursal of Housing Loans 17. DBOD.BP.BC.No.104/08.12.015/2012- 21.06.2013 Housing Sector: New Sub-sector CRE 13 (Residential Housing) within CRE and 15Rationalisation of provisioning, risk, weight and LTV ratio. 18. DBOD.No.BP.BC.78/08.12.001/2011-12 03.02.2012 Housing loans by Commercial Banks-Loan to Value (LTV) Ratio 19. DBOD.BP.BC.No.45/08.12.015/2011-12 03.11.2011 Guidelines on Commercial Real Estate(CRE) 20. DBOD.Dir.BC.No.93 /08.12.14/ 2010-11 12.05.2011 National Disaster Management Guidelines on Ensuring Disaster Resilient construction of Buildings and Infrastructure. 21. DBOD.No.BP.BC.69/08.12.001/2010-11 23.12.2010 Housing Loans by Commercial Banks - LTV Ratio, Risk Weight and Provisioning 22. DBOD.No. Dir(Hsg). BC.31/ 27.08.2009 Finance for Housing Projects – 08.12.001/2009-10 Incorporating clause in the terms and conditions to disclose in Pamphlets / Brochures / advertisements information regarding mortgage of property to the bank. 23. DBOD.Dir.BC.No.43/ 21.01.002/2006-07 17.11.2006 Housing Loans- Orders of the Delhi High Court – Writ Petition by Kalyan Sanstha Welfare Organisation against Union of India and Others – Implementation of Directions 24. DBOD.BP.BC.1711/08.12.14/2005-06 12.06.2006 Adherence to National Building Code (NBC) Specifications necessary for lending institutes 25. DBOD. No.BP.BC.65/ /08.12.01/2005-06 01.03.2006 Banks' Exposures to Real Estate Sector 26. DBOD.BP.BC.61/ 21.01.002/ 2004-05 23.12.2004 Mid-Term Review of the Annual Policy Statement for the year 2004-05-Risk Weight on housing loans and consumer credit 27. DBOD(IECS).No.4/ 03.27.25/ 2004-05 03.07.2004 Freedom granted to banks to lay down the period within which the borrowers are required to construct the house on the plot purchased 28. IECD. No. 14/ 01.01.43/ 2003-04 30.06.2004 Merger of functions of IECD with other departments 29. DBOD.No.BP.BC.106/ 21.01.002/ 2001- 24.05.2002 Risk Weight on Housing Finance and 02 Mortgage Backed Securities 30. IECD.No.22/03.27.25/2001-02 06.05.2002 Housing Finance Allocation for the year 2002-2003 31. IECD.No.(HF)12/ 03.27.25/98-99 15.01.1999 Terms and Conditions Governing Direct Finance for Purchase of Old House 32. IECD.No.(HF) 40/03.27.25/97-98 16.04.1998 Terms and Conditions Governing Direct Housing Loans - Review of Parameters 33. IECD.No.27/03.27.25/97-98 22.12.1997 Scheme of Annual Housing Finance Allocation to Banks- Direct Housing Finance – Modifications 34. IECD.No.CMD. 8/03:27:25/95-96 27.09.1995 Sanction of Term Loans for Housing Projects Involving Budgetary Support from Government – Non-Permissibility of 1635. DBOD.No.BC.211/21.01.001/93 28.12.1993 Restrictions on Credit to certain sectors- Real Estate Loans 36. DBOD.No.BL.BC. 132/C.168(M)-91 11.06.1991 Opening of Specialised Housing Finance Branches 37. IECD.No.CAD.IV. 223/(HF-P)- 88/89 02.11.1988 Housing Finance – Modifications on the basis of the recommendations of the Study Group on Housing Finance Institutions 38. DBOD.No.CAS.BC. 70/C.446(HF-P)-81 05.06.1981 Housing Finance - Revised Guidelines (General) 39. DBOD.No.CAS.BC.71/ C.446(HF-P)-79 31.05.1979 Housing Finance - Recommendations of the Working Group to Examine the Role of Banking System in Providing Finance for Housing Scheme 17

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