How long does a property transfer take?
4 min read · ·
A straightforward property transfer usually takes about 6 to 12 weeks from the day the offer is accepted to the day it registers at the Deeds Office. Delays are common, and they are almost always caused by outstanding documents or clearance figures.
Key points
- Most transfers register about 6 to 12 weeks after the offer to purchase is signed.
- The clock only really starts once the bond is approved and the buyer has paid the costs.
- Rates clearance and levy clearance certificates are the most common cause of delay.
- Deeds Office turnaround after lodgement is usually a week or two, and varies by office.
- You get the keys on registration, unless the agreement gives you earlier occupation against occupational rent.
Expect about 6 to 12 weeks from a signed offer to purchase to registration at the Deeds Office. Some transfers register in six weeks. Plenty take three months or more. The Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937 governs the registration itself, and that final step is rarely the slow part. What takes the time is everything that has to be assembled before the deed can even be lodged.
The stages, in order
Offer accepted and conveyancer instructed. The seller nominates the transferring attorney, and the estate agent sends the signed agreement through. This takes a few days.
Suspensive conditions. Most offers depend on the buyer getting a bond within a set number of days, and sometimes on the buyer selling their own property first. Nothing much happens until these are met. Bond approval typically takes one to three weeks depending on the bank and how complete your application is.
Documents and FICA. The conveyancer sends both parties documents to sign and asks for FICA verification: identity documents, proof of address, marriage certificate or antenuptial contract, and tax numbers. Signing appointments are usually within a week or two of the request.
Costs paid. The buyer pays transfer costs and, where applicable, bond costs. Transfer duty is paid over to SARS and the receipt is obtained. See What are transfer costs when buying a house? and the transfer costs calculator.
Clearance certificates. The conveyancer applies to the municipality for a rates clearance figure and, if the property is in a scheme or estate, to the body corporate or homeowners association for a levy clearance certificate. The seller pays those figures, which include several months of charges in advance, and the certificates are issued. This is where transfers most often stall.
Bond cancellation. If the seller has a bond, the bank issues cancellation figures and appoints an attorney to cancel it. Banks generally want 90 days notice of cancellation, and a shorter notice can attract a penalty. This runs in parallel with the rest.
Compliance certificates. The seller arranges the electrical compliance certificate and, depending on the property and the area, plumbing, gas, electric fence and beetle certificates.
Lodgement. The transfer, the new bond and the bond cancellation are lodged at the Deeds Office together as a linked batch. Nothing registers unless all of them are in order.
Examination and registration. Deeds Office examiners check the documents. Turnaround after lodgement is commonly around a week to two weeks, though it differs between offices and gets slower at busy times of year. If a document is rejected, it is corrected and relodged, which usually costs another cycle.
Registration and payout. On the day of registration the property is legally yours, the keys are handed over, and the conveyancer pays the seller, the bank, the agent and the municipality from the proceeds. Payout to the seller normally follows within a few working days.
Why transfers get delayed
In rough order of how often they cause trouble:
- rates clearance figures from the municipality, especially where the account is in dispute or has old arrears attached to it
- outstanding FICA documents from either party
- the buyer paying transfer costs late
- bond approval taking longer than the offer allowed, or the buyer changing banks
- levy clearance held up by arrear levies in a scheme
- a deceased estate, a divorce order or a trust in the chain of ownership, which adds Master of the High Court or court requirements
- an unregistered subdivision, a boundary problem or building plans that were never approved
- documents rejected at the Deeds Office and relodged
How to make it faster
As a buyer: get your bond pre-approval in place before you make an offer, return signed documents and FICA the day you receive them, pay the transfer and bond costs as soon as the statement arrives, and ask the conveyancer for a written progress update every two weeks.
As a seller: give your bank the required notice of cancellation early, settle municipal and levy arrears before clearance figures are requested, book the electrical and other compliance inspections immediately rather than waiting, and if the property is in a deceased estate or a trust, tell the conveyancer at the start so the extra authorities can be obtained in parallel.
Both: deal directly with the transferring attorney rather than only through the agent, and put every request in writing so there is a record of who was waiting on whom.
Occupation before registration
If you want to move in before registration, the agreement must say so, and you will pay occupational rent to the seller for the period between occupation and registration. Be careful here. Occupational rent is not a deposit and does not reduce the purchase price, and moving in early weakens your position if defects are found. Agree the amount, the start date and who pays utilities in writing.
If the property is in a sectional title scheme, also read How to dispute body corporate levies, because a levy dispute can block the clearance certificate you need to register.
LawMatch is not a law firm and this page is general information, not legal advice about your transaction.
What it typically costs
Updated Sep 2026| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Initial consultation Many firms offer a free first consultation of 15 to 30 minutes. | R0 – R1 500 |
| Attorney hourly rate Junior attorneys sit at the lower end, senior property specialists and larger city firms at the top. | R1 200 – R3 500 |
| Letter of demand A simple arrear rental or deposit demand costs less than one that needs the lease analysed first. | R750 – R3 500 |
| Unopposed eviction application (PIE Act) Covers the application, the notice authorised by the court and the appearance. Sheriff and advocate fees are extra. | R8 000 – R25 000 |
| Opposed eviction application (PIE Act) Rises sharply with postponements, answering papers and any appeal. High Court costs more than the magistrate court. | R25 000 – R120 000 |
| Conveyancing fee on transfer Follows a recommended guideline scale based on the purchase price. Use the transfer costs calculator for your figure. | R8 000 – R60 000 |
| Bond registration attorney fee A separate account from the transfer, based on the bond amount and charged by the bank attorney. | R7 000 – R45 000 |
| Rental Housing Tribunal referral Free in every province. No attorney needed, and rulings are enforceable like a court order. | R0 – R0 |
Estimates only. Actual fees vary by attorney and complexity.
When you need an attorney
You should speak to an attorney if:
- the transfer has stalled for weeks and you cannot get a clear written explanation
- the seller is in a deceased estate, a divorce or a trust and the authority to sell is unclear
- there is a dispute over the municipal account that is blocking the rates clearance certificate
- the seller wants to cancel the sale, or is trying to accept a better offer after signature
- you have taken occupation and defects have come to light before registration
Frequently asked questions
When do I get the keys?
How long does the Deeds Office itself take?
Can I speed up a transfer by paying more?
What happens if the buyer misses the bond deadline in the offer?
Does a cash purchase register faster?
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