Homebuyers Beware: Banks Hard-Sell Inadequate Insurance with Home Loans

Festivals in India traditionally drive major purchases like homes, and this year has seen a significant surge. Property registrations increased by 32% in September compared to the previous year, with Mumbai alone recording 12,000 home sales. A substantial portion, approximately 80%, of these homes are financed through loans.

However, a common issue arises when borrowers are hard-sold insurance policies by their lenders. These policies are often found to be inadequate, covering less than the loan amount, or irrelevant to the borrower's actual financial protection needs. For instance, a mutual fund distributor discovered his home loan insurance covered only a tenth of his total loan. Home loan insurance typically functions as a decreasing term policy, where the coverage reduces as the loan is repaid.

Other problems include lenders selling incorrect policies, such as critical illness cover instead of life insurance, or obtaining auto-debit mandates for future insurance premiums under duress. In joint loans, policies might be taken on the lower-earning spouse to maximize lender commissions, defeating the purpose of insuring the primary income earner.

Regulators, including the National Housing Bank and the IRDAI, have repeatedly warned banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) against forcing insurance sales or linking them to loan facilities, emphasizing that insurance purchase should be voluntary. Despite these warnings, the practice continues.

Impact This news highlights significant consumer protection issues in India's financial sector. It can lead to increased customer complaints, regulatory scrutiny for banks and NBFCs, and potential damage to lender-borrower trust. The financial well-being of homebuyers is directly affected. Rating: 7/10

Difficult Terms: * **EMIs (Equated Monthly Installments)**: The fixed amount paid by a borrower to a lender at a specified date each month, which includes both principal and interest repayment. * **Home Loan Insurance**: A type of insurance policy designed to cover the outstanding home loan amount in case of borrower's death, disability, or job loss. * **Decreasing Term Life Policy**: A life insurance policy where the sum assured decreases over the term of the policy, typically matching the declining balance of a loan. * **Free-Look Period**: A period, usually 30 days, after purchasing an insurance policy during which the policyholder can review the policy and cancel it for a full refund if unsatisfied. * **Banking Ombudsman**: A senior official appointed by the Reserve Bank of India to address customer complaints against banks and certain other financial institutions. * **IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India)**: The statutory body that regulates and supervises the insurance industry in India. * **NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Companies)**: Financial institutions that provide banking-like services but do not hold a banking license. They are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.