National Housing Board, NHB Proposes Common Home Loan Forum

By Daniel Hughes · February 21, 2026

New Headquarters Building (NHB) - Flickr - The Central Intelligence Agency

Home loan seekers confused about disparities in housing loans extended by various housing finance companies can look forward to a common forum being proposed by the National Housing Board (NHB).

The NHB is deliberating over a common forum of banks and HFCs to maintain proficient and principled standards in the housing loan sector.

To this effect, leading banks and HFCs are being consulted and
a decision on the forum would be taken based on their feedback.

Last October, the RBI had suggested evenness and lucidity in
the dealings of all banks in matters related to disbursal of housing
loans in its mid-term review of the Annual Monetary Policy 2006-07.

The NHB, accordingly, has initiated the process of bringing about
uniformity in the loan process of banks.
Some of the proposals by the NHB include: counselling on mortgage,
a common platform for HFCs and banks which would in due course
develop into s Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO); and start on
a housing finance portal which would keep customers informed on
housing finance issues.

The forum would function as a pool of
specialists, imparting legal, technical and financial expertise
to guide clients.
Mortgage Counsellors
On appointing a Certified Independent Mortgage Counsellor (CIMC),
either a qualified chartered accountant, cost accountant, CFA,
MBA, insurance agent with IRDA accreditation or a retired banker
would be considered, subject to his clearing an online examination
conducted by the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance.

Various housing finance companies have different interest rates
and repayment options which leave customers perplexed about the
kind of loan they should avail.

Being non-partisan in nature,
the forum would extend professional and unbiased advice to clients.

Mortgage Forum
The mortgage forum would ensure standardisation and uniformity
in the housing finance sector, in terms of documentation and products.

Moreover, customers and HFCs would bring the builders under
closer scrutiny, ensuring consistency and regularity in prices,
terms and conditions and the like.

Experts in the industry have welcomed the move, offering suggestions
to make the forum play a more constructive role than being just
a lenders club. Consumer forums and NGOs should also be included
in the forum, they suggest, bringing more benefits to customers.

An ombudsman for housing loans could also be appointed to set
off the efforts of the forum, ensuring the implementation of procedures.