Services
Property Transfers
Transfer of houses, sectional title units, farms and commercial property, from the signed offer to registration at the Deeds Office.
A property transfer moves ownership of a house, sectional title unit, farm or commercial property from seller to buyer, and is only complete once it is registered at the Deeds Office. The seller usually appoints the transfer attorney; the buyer usually pays the transfer costs.
We manage the whole transfer: from the signed Offer to Purchase, through the clearances and signatures, to lodgement and registration, and we keep buyers, sellers, agents and banks informed along the way.
How we help
- Checking the Offer to Purchase and its conditions
- FICA verification of buyers and sellers
- Rates, levy and other clearance certificates
- Transfer duty submissions to SARS
- Lodgement at the Deeds Office, linked with the bond registration and any bond cancellation
- Paying out the purchase price on registration
What to have ready
- Your ID and proof of address
- The signed Offer to Purchase
- Your bank details for payouts, confirmed in person or by phone
How a transfer works
Offer to Purchase signed
Buyer and seller sign the offer and the seller appoints the transfer attorney, who opens your file.
Bond approved
If you are buying with a home loan, the bank approves the bond and appoints its bond attorney.
FICA and clearances
Both parties supply FICA documents; we obtain the rates clearance and, where it applies, the levy clearance.
Documents signed, duty paid
We prepare the transfer documents for signature and pay transfer duty to SARS where it is due.
Lodged at the Deeds Office
The transfer, the new bond and any bond cancellation are lodged together and examined.
Registered
The Registrar signs, ownership passes to the buyer and the money is paid out. Keys are handed over as the offer says.
Questions about transfers
How long does a property transfer take?
A typical transfer takes 8 to 12 weeks from the date the Offer to Purchase is signed. Bond approval, documents and the Deeds Office workload all affect the time.
Who appoints the transfer attorney?
The seller usually appoints the transfer attorney, and the buyer usually pays the transfer costs. The bank appoints the bond registration attorney.
How much should I budget for transfer costs?
It depends on the price and on whether there is a bond. Our calculators work out transfer duty, our fees and the Deeds Office costs on your price.
What is FICA and why is it required?
The Financial Intelligence Centre Act requires us to verify who you are. You will need your ID, proof of address and, for a bond, proof of income.
What happens on registration day?
The Registrar of Deeds signs the documents and the buyer becomes the legal owner. The purchase price and costs are then paid out to everyone due.
When do I get the keys?
Usually on registration day once the funds are confirmed. The Offer to Purchase sets out the exact arrangement.