HomeCirculars › RBI/2009-10/131

Housing Project Loans: Mandatory Mortgage Disclosure in Ads

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/131 · issued 27 Aug 2009 · ~1 min read
Quick answerBanks must now require builders to disclose mortgage details in all project brochures and ads. This follows a Bombay High Court observation. Funds cannot be released until compliance is confirmed.

What changed

RBI has mandated that banks financing housing projects must include a clause in loan terms requiring builders to disclose the mortgagee bank's name in all promotional materials. Builders must also state they will provide NOC from the bank for property sales. This is a new condition beyond the earlier master circular guidance.

What it means for you

Banks must update their loan agreements for housing project finance to include these disclosure clauses. Lenders need to verify compliance before releasing funds, adding an extra step in the disbursement process. This enhances transparency for homebuyers and reduces legal risks for banks.

Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.

What banks were required to do at the time

Who it affects

Scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs) financing housing projects, Builders and developers availing project-specific loans, Homebuyers purchasing flats in such projects

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What specific information must builders disclose in their brochures?

Builders must disclose the name(s) of the bank(s) to which the property is mortgaged, and indicate that they will provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the mortgagee bank for sale of flats, if required.

When must banks ensure this compliance?

Banks must ensure compliance before releasing any funds to the builder. The disclosure requirements are a precondition for disbursement.

Does this apply to all housing finance or only specific projects?

This applies to finance granted for specific housing or development projects, as referenced in the master circular on housing finance.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1835: DBOD.No.Dir.(Hsg).BC.31/08.12.001/2009-10 — "Finance for Housing Projects - Incorporating Clause in the Terms and Conditions to disclose in Pamphlets / Brochu”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/131 DBOD.No. Dir (Hsg). BC.31/ 08.12.001/2009-10 August  27, 2009 All Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding RRBs) Dear Sir/Madam, Finance for Housing Projects – Incorporating clause in the terms and conditions to disclose in pamphlets/brochures/advertisements information regarding mortgage of property to the bank Please refer to para 3.3 of our Master Circular on Housing Finance DBOD.No.Dir. (HSG).BC.08/08.12.01/2009-10 dated July 1, 2009 wherein banks have been advised that they may extend credit to private builders on commercial terms by way of loans linked to each specific project. Further, in terms of para 3.2.3 of the above circular, bank can also extend finance to public agencies for land acquisition and development. 2. In a case which came up before the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Bombay, the Hon’ble Court observed that the bank granting finance to housing / development projects should insist on disclosure of the charge / or any other liability on the plot, in the brochure, pamphlets etc., which may be published by developer / owner inviting public at large to purchase flats and properties. The Court also added that this obviously would be part of the terms and conditions on which the loan may be sanctioned by the bank. 3.  Keeping in view the above, while granting finance to specific housing / development projects, banks are advised to stipulate as a part of the terms and conditions that: (i) the builder / developer / company would disclose in the Pamphlets / Brochures etc., the name(s) of the bank(s) to which the property is mortgaged. (ii) the builder / developer / company would append the information relating to mortgage while publishing advertisement of a particular scheme in newspapers / magazines etc. (iii) 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. 4.  Banks are also 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. Yours faithfully (B.Mahapatra) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/131 · issued 27 Aug 2009. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=5233&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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