[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-find-sg-diagram-by-erf-number":3},{"id":4,"uid":5,"site":6,"slug":7,"title":8,"excerpt":9,"body":10,"category":11,"tags":12,"meta_title":13,"meta_description":14,"conversion_code":12,"schema_type":15,"status":16,"featured":17,"sort_order":18,"created_at":19,"updated_at":19,"related":20,"breadcrumbs":59},74,"b1935051-6ba9-11f1-b42b-06d846a607f9","sgcheck","find-sg-diagram-by-erf-number","How to Find Your Erf's SG Diagram by Erf Number","A practical guide to locating your property's Surveyor General diagram using the erf number, town and portion, or simply by searching the address on a map.","\u003Cp>Every registered erf in South Africa has an SG diagram sitting behind it. This is the official survey of your land, prepared by a professional land surveyor and lodged with the Surveyor General. It sets out your boundaries, your corner beacons (pegs), the length and bearing of each boundary line, the total extent of the erf, and any servitudes that cross it. If you know your erf number, you are most of the way to finding it. This guide shows you exactly how.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>What you need to identify an erf\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>An erf number on its own is not unique across the country. There is an Erf 1 in dozens of towns. To pinpoint the right SG diagram, you usually need three pieces of information:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Erf number\u003C\u002Fstrong> — the registered number of the stand, for example \"Erf 4521\".\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Town or suburb\u003C\u002Fstrong> — the township the erf falls in, such as Brackenfell or Centurion. This is what makes the erf number unique.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Portion number\u003C\u002Fstrong> — if the original erf was subdivided, your piece carries a portion number (for example \"Portion 2 of Erf 4521\"). If your erf was never subdivided, it is the \"remaining extent\" and there is no portion number to worry about.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>You will find all three on your municipal rates account, your offer to purchase, or your title deed. The combination of erf number plus town plus portion points to exactly one surveyed property and exactly one set of SG diagrams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Searching by erf number on SGCheck\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Once you have those details, the search itself is quick:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Open the free \u003Ca href=\"\u002F\">SGCheck search\u003C\u002Fa> and choose the erf number option.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Type in the erf number, then the town or suburb.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Add the portion number if your property has one. If it does not, leave it as the main erf.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Run the search. SGCheck shows you, for free, which SG diagrams exist for that property before you pay anything.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>Erf properties like this are classified as \"Urban\". Farms and agricultural holdings are \"Rural\" and are searched the same way, using the farm name and portion rather than an erf number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Only have an address? Let the map resolve the erf\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>You do not actually need the erf number to start. If all you have is a street address, search by address instead and let the tool do the work:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Enter the street address and pick the property on the map.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>SGCheck resolves that pin to the underlying erf number and portion for you.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>You then see the same free list of available SG diagrams.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>This is the easiest route for most buyers, who often have an address long before they have the erf details. The map removes the guesswork of matching a street name to a township and stand number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>What you get once you've found it\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>The free search confirms which diagrams are on record. To actually read them, you pay a single R230 fee and SGCheck retrieves and bundles every SG diagram on the property into one PDF you can download. That includes the original diagram and any later subdivision or consolidation diagrams that apply to your specific erf or portion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One important note on flats and townhouses: sectional title properties are sourced manually on request rather than instantly, because their survey records (sectional plans) sit in a different part of the cadastral system to ordinary erven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>SG diagram versus title deed — don't confuse them\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>It is worth repeating, because people often arrive looking for the wrong document. The SG diagram is the \u003Cem>survey\u003C\u002Fem> of your land: where it is, how big it is, and where its boundaries run. It is not the ownership record. Who owns the property, what they paid, and whether there is a bond registered all live in the title deed at the Deeds Office — a completely separate document held in a separate office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If what you actually want is ownership, transfer history, or bond information, the SG diagram won't tell you that. For those questions, head to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.deedscheck.co.za\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DeedsCheck\u003C\u002Fa>, our sister tool for searching the deeds registry. If you want your boundaries, beacons, extent and servitudes, you are in the right place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Ready to look it up?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>If you have your erf number, town and portion ready — or just a street address — you can confirm in seconds which diagrams exist for your property. Start with the free \u003Ca href=\"\u002F\">SGCheck search\u003C\u002Fa>, see what is on record at no cost, and only pay the R230 fee if you want to download the diagrams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Frequently asked questions\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Ch3>Can I find an SG diagram with only the erf number?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Not reliably on its own, because the same erf number repeats in many towns. Pair the erf number with the town or suburb, and add a portion number if your property was subdivided, and the search will point to the correct property.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch3>What if I don't know my portion number?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>If your erf was never subdivided there is no portion to enter — it is simply the main erf or remaining extent. If it was subdivided, the portion appears on your rates account or title deed, or you can search by address and let SGCheck resolve the portion from the map for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch3>What does it cost to download the SG diagrams?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Searching to see which diagrams exist is free. To retrieve and download every SG diagram on the property as a single PDF, you pay one R230 fee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch3>Will the SG diagram show me who owns the property?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>No. The SG diagram is the survey of the land — boundaries, beacons, extent and servitudes only. Ownership, transfers and bonds are held in the title deed at the Deeds Office, which you can look up on \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.deedscheck.co.za\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DeedsCheck\u003C\u002Fa> instead.\u003C\u002Fp>","guides",null,"Find Your SG Diagram by Erf Number (Step by Step)","Learn how to find your erf's SG diagram by erf number, town and portion, or by resolving it from a street address, then download every diagram on the property.","Article","published",false,4,"2026-06-19 06:39:59",[21,35,48],{"id":22,"uid":23,"site":24,"slug":25,"title":26,"excerpt":27,"body":28,"category":29,"tags":12,"meta_title":30,"meta_description":31,"conversion_code":12,"schema_type":15,"status":16,"featured":17,"sort_order":32,"created_at":33,"updated_at":34},8,"bbdb1b7f-8064-ead6-8386-3c4bb0f205c3","deedscheck","what-is-a-title-deed","How to Get a Copy of Your Title Deed in South Africa","You can order a copy of any South African title deed online, without visiting a Deeds Office. Here is exactly how the two-step process works and what it costs.","\u003Cp>You do not need to queue at a Deeds Office to get a copy of a title deed. Whether you have lost your own, need one for a sale or bond, or want to see the deed on a property before you buy, you can order it online and have the PDF in hand the same day. Here is exactly how it works on DeedsCheck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>What you need to find the deed\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>You can locate a property's title deed from any one of these:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>The \u003Cstrong>street address\u003C\u002Fstrong>;\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>The \u003Cstrong>owner's name\u003C\u002Fstrong>; or\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>The \u003Cstrong>erf (or section) number\u003C\u002Fstrong> — see \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fresources\u002Funderstanding-erf-numbers\">understanding erf numbers\u003C\u002Fa> if you are not sure what yours is.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>You do not need the title deed number itself — the search finds it for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Step 1 — Confirm the deed is on file (from R55)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Start with a \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fproducts\u002Fproperty-document-search\">Property Document Search\u003C\u002Fa>. For R55 it returns the list of registry documents recorded against the property — including the title deed — so you know the exact document is available \u003Cem>before\u003C\u002Fem> you pay to retrieve it. This is the step that saves you ordering a document that turns out not to be on file.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good to know: the R55 you pay here is \u003Cstrong>credited toward your title deed copy\u003C\u002Fstrong>, so the search is not an extra cost — it is the first part of the same order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Step 2 — Order your title deed copy (R640)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Once the search confirms the deed is available, order the \u003Cstrong>Title Deed Copy\u003C\u002Fstrong> (R640). You receive the actual title deed as a PDF — the same document the Deeds Office holds — delivered as soon as payment clears. No appointment, no collection, no waiting for the post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Why people order it here instead of going in person\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>The official route exists, but it means registering for an account, working through a conveyancer-oriented portal, and waiting. DeedsCheck is built for the person who just wants the document:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Instant\u003C\u002Fstrong> — delivered on payment, not in days;\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>No login or registration\u003C\u002Fstrong> — search, pay, download;\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Plain English\u003C\u002Fstrong> — no legal jargon or registry codes to decode;\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>One price, all fees included\u003C\u002Fstrong> — registry retrieval costs are built in, paid securely by card or EFT.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\u003Ch2>When you will need a copy\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>A copy of the title deed is usually needed when you sell, register or cancel a bond, wind up a deceased estate, resolve a boundary or servitude question, or simply replace one you have mislaid. In each case the conditions recorded on the deed — servitudes, restrictions, the exact property description — are what matter, so having the actual document rather than a summary is what counts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Get your copy now\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Search the property and confirm the deed in under a minute: \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fproducts\u002Fproperty-document-search\">start a Property Document Search\u003C\u002Fa>, then order the copy. You can also look up \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fresources\u002Fcheck-property-ownership\">who owns a property\u003C\u002Fa> or check the \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fresources\u002Fproperty-transfer-process\">transfer history\u003C\u002Fa> while you are there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Frequently asked questions\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Ch3>How much does a copy of a title deed cost?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>The title deed copy is R640. You first run a Property Document Search (R55) to confirm the deed is on file, and that R55 is credited toward the copy, so the search is not an additional charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>How long does it take to get the copy?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>It is delivered as a PDF as soon as your payment clears — usually within minutes. There is no appointment or collection step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Do I need the title deed number to order one?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>No. You can search by street address, owner name or erf number, and the search finds the title deed for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Is the online copy the same as the one from the Deeds Office?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Yes. You receive the same registered title deed document that the Deeds Office holds, delivered to you as a PDF.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Can I get a copy of someone else's title deed?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Yes. Title deed information is part of the public deeds record, so you can order a copy for any property — which is exactly why buyers check a deed before making an offer.\u003C\u002Fp>","Guides","How to Get a Copy of Your Title Deed Online (from R55)","Get a copy of any South African title deed online — no Deeds Office visit and no login. Confirm it is on file from R55, then download the title deed as a PDF.",0,"2026-03-27 07:56:13","2026-06-18 05:48:47",{"id":36,"uid":37,"site":38,"slug":39,"title":40,"excerpt":41,"body":42,"category":11,"tags":12,"meta_title":40,"meta_description":43,"conversion_code":12,"schema_type":44,"status":16,"featured":45,"sort_order":46,"created_at":47,"updated_at":19},6,"68b0fb33-3b5d-2158-16c2-61070373c9cf","deedsweb","buying-property-sa","Buying Property in South Africa: A Step-by-Step Guide","Buying a home in South Africa is a structured legal process with several moving parts. This guide walks through it step by step — from budget to the day the property registers in your name.","\u003Cp>Buying property in South Africa is exciting, but it is also a structured legal process with several parties, a fair amount of paperwork, and costs that catch first-time buyers by surprise. The good news is that the process is well-established and predictable once you understand the steps. This guide walks through the whole journey in plain English — from working out what you can afford to the day the property is registered in your name — and points out where a little homework can save you a lot of money and stress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Step 1: Work out what you can really afford\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Before you look at a single listing, get clear on your budget. Affordability is not just the purchase price — it is the deposit, the monthly bond repayment, and the upfront costs of buying (covered below). Banks assess affordability against your income, expenses and credit record.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is worth getting \u003Cstrong>bond pre-approval\u003C\u002Fstrong> before you start house-hunting. A pre-approval tells you what a bank is likely to lend, so you shop in the right price band and can move quickly with a credible offer. A deposit is not always required — 100% bonds exist — but a deposit lowers your repayments and strengthens your application.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Step 2: Find the right property — and check it before you fall in love\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>When you find a property, look past the photos. Two things matter that a listing will not tell you:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>What kind of ownership it is.\u003C\u002Fstrong> A freehold house sits on its own \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fproperty-types\u002Ferf\">erf\u003C\u002Fa>; a flat or townhouse in a complex is \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fproperty-types\u002Fsectional-title\">sectional title\u003C\u002Fa>, which means levies and a body corporate. The difference changes your monthly costs and what you may do with the property.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>What the deeds record says.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Who actually owns it, whether there is a bond registered over it, and how often it has changed hands are all part of the public deeds record. Checking this before you make an offer is the single most useful piece of due diligence a buyer can do — you can look up a property's owner, \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fguides\u002Fproperty-bonds-explained\">bond\u003C\u002Fa> and transfer history online via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.deedscheck.co.za\">DeedsCheck\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Where the boundaries actually run.\u003C\u002Fstrong> The surveyed extent, boundaries and any servitudes are defined on the property's Surveyor General (SG) diagram — worth checking if a fence line, the erf size or a right of way across the land matters to you. You can look up and download the SG diagram for any property at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sgcheck.co.za\">SGCheck\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\u003Ch2>Step 3: Make an offer (the Offer to Purchase)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>An offer in South Africa is made in writing through an \u003Cstrong>Offer to Purchase (OTP)\u003C\u002Fstrong>. This is not a casual expression of interest — once signed by both parties it becomes a binding sale agreement, so read it carefully before you sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most offers include \u003Cstrong>suspensive conditions\u003C\u002Fstrong> — things that must happen for the sale to go ahead, most commonly that you obtain a bond within a set number of days, and sometimes the sale of your existing home. If a suspensive condition is not met, the sale falls away. The OTP also records the price, the deposit, the occupation date, and who pays occupational rent if you move in before transfer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Step 4: Apply for your bond\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Unless you are buying cash, your next step is the home loan. You can apply to banks directly or use a bond originator who submits one application to several banks on your behalf. The bank values the property and, if approved, issues a grant. The loan and the \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fguides\u002Fproperty-bonds-explained\">bond\u003C\u002Fa> (the security the bank registers over the property) are arranged together but are legally different things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Step 5: The transfer process\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Once the offer is firm and the bond is approved, the legal transfer begins. This is handled by conveyancing attorneys, and it is where most of the waiting happens. In short, three attorneys may be involved — one transferring the property, one registering your new bond, and one cancelling the seller's existing bond — and they lodge at the Deeds Office together. The full sequence, and why it takes the time it does, is covered in our guide to \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fguides\u002Fproperty-transfer-explained\">the property transfer process\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expect transfer to take roughly eight to twelve weeks. Most delays are not at the Deeds Office but before it — bond approval, rates clearance from the municipality, and gathering the necessary certificates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Step 6: Budget for the costs of buying\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>The price on the listing is not the whole story. Budget for these upfront costs, which are typically paid before registration:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Transfer duty\u003C\u002Fstrong> — a tax payable to SARS on property purchases above a threshold, charged on a sliding scale (lower-value homes below the threshold pay none). New homes bought from a developer are usually subject to VAT instead.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Conveyancing (transfer) fees\u003C\u002Fstrong> — the transferring attorney's fee, on a recommended tariff that rises with the purchase price.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Bond registration costs\u003C\u002Fstrong> — the bond attorney's fee plus the cost of registering the bond, if you are financing.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Deposit\u003C\u002Fstrong> — if your offer included one.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Rates and levies\u003C\u002Fstrong> — the seller must obtain a rates clearance, and you may need to fund a few months in advance; sectional title buyers also budget for levies.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>Because transfer duty thresholds and tariffs change from year to year, confirm the current figures with your attorney or bank when you buy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Step 7: Registration — you become the owner\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>You do not become the owner when your offer is accepted, or even when you pay — you become the owner on the day the Registrar of Deeds \u003Cstrong>registers\u003C\u002Fstrong> the transfer into your name. At that moment ownership passes, your bond is registered, and a new \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fguides\u002Ftitle-deeds-explained\">title deed\u003C\u002Fa> in your name comes into existence. The property is registered at the \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fdeeds-offices\">deeds office\u003C\u002Fa> that covers its area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Common pitfalls to avoid\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Signing the OTP without reading the conditions.\u003C\u002Fstrong> It is binding — understand the suspensive conditions and dates before you sign.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Underbudgeting for costs.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Transfer duty and attorney fees can add a meaningful amount on top of the price.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Skipping due diligence.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Confirm who owns the property and what is registered over it before you commit.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Ignoring the ownership type.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Sectional title levies and conduct rules are part of the deal; factor them in.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\u003Ch2>A quick pre-purchase checklist\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Get bond pre-approval so you know your budget.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Confirm whether it is freehold or sectional title.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Check the property's owner, bond and transfer history on the deeds record via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.deedscheck.co.za\">DeedsCheck\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Read the Offer to Purchase and its suspensive conditions carefully.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Budget for transfer duty, conveyancing and bond costs on top of the price.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\u003Ch2>Frequently asked questions\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Ch3>When do I officially become the owner of a property in South Africa?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>On the day the Registrar of Deeds registers the transfer into your name — not when your offer is accepted or when you pay. Registration is the legal moment ownership passes and your new title deed is created.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>How long does it take to buy a house?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>From accepted offer to registration is usually about eight to twelve weeks. Most of the time goes on bond approval and gathering rates clearance and other certificates, rather than on the Deeds Office itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>What are the main costs of buying property?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>On top of the purchase price you typically pay transfer duty (a SARS tax above a threshold, or VAT on new developer homes), conveyancing fees, and — if you are financing — bond registration costs, plus a deposit and advance rates or levies. Figures change yearly, so confirm them when you buy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Should I check the deeds record before making an offer?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Yes. The owner, any registered bond, and the transfer history are part of the public deeds record. Checking them before you offer confirms you are dealing with the real owner and reveals how the property has changed hands. You can look this up online instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Is an Offer to Purchase binding?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Yes. Once both parties sign, the Offer to Purchase is a binding sale agreement, subject to any suspensive conditions in it (such as obtaining a bond). Read it carefully before signing.\u003C\u002Fp>","A plain-English, step-by-step guide to buying property in South Africa: budgeting, the offer to purchase, bonds, transfer, costs, and the checks to do before you buy.","HowTo",true,1,"2026-04-14 06:10:16",{"id":49,"uid":50,"site":24,"slug":51,"title":52,"excerpt":53,"body":54,"category":29,"tags":12,"meta_title":55,"meta_description":56,"conversion_code":12,"schema_type":15,"status":16,"featured":17,"sort_order":57,"created_at":58,"updated_at":34},10,"49199d9d-7e9c-0b3d-dfc2-cc7e9c7e3780","understanding-erf-numbers","How to Search for a Property by Erf Number","If you have a property's erf number, you can pull its owner, title deed and transfer history online — no street address and no Deeds Office visit needed.","\u003Cp>An erf number is all you need to look up a property's official records. If you have it from a rates account, a listing or a title deed but do not have the owner's details, a quick search returns the registered owner, the title deed and the transfer history. Here is how to do it on DeedsCheck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>What you need before you search\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Two things:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>The \u003Cstrong>erf number\u003C\u002Fstrong>; and\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>The \u003Cstrong>township or suburb\u003C\u002Fstrong> it falls in.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>The suburb matters because erf numbers repeat — every township has its own Erf 1 — so the number on its own is ambiguous. If you are unsure what an erf number is or where to find one, see \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fresources\u002Funderstanding-erf-numbers\">understanding erf numbers\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>How the search works\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Enter the erf number and suburb in the search box. DeedsCheck matches it against the deeds registry and returns the property. From there you can order a full \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fproducts\u002Fproperty-search\">Property Search Report\u003C\u002Fa> (R225), which gives you:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>the \u003Cstrong>registered owner\u003C\u002Fstrong>;\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>the \u003Cstrong>title deed\u003C\u002Fstrong> details;\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>any \u003Cstrong>bond\u003C\u002Fstrong> registered over the property; and\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>the \u003Cstrong>transfer history\u003C\u002Fstrong> — past sales and dates.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\u003Ch2>Why search by erf number?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>It is the most reliable way to identify a property when you do not have a clean address — an erf from a municipal bill, a sectional scheme document, or a development's general plan. Because the erf number is the property's fixed legal identity, an erf search lands on exactly the right record rather than guessing between similar street addresses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Why people use DeedsCheck for it\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>The official registry can return the same data, but it means an account, a conveyancer-oriented portal and a wait. DeedsCheck is built for a quick answer:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Instant\u003C\u002Fstrong> — results on screen, report delivered on payment;\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>No login or registration\u003C\u002Fstrong> — search, pay, download;\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Plain English\u003C\u002Fstrong> — owner, bond and history laid out, not raw registry codes;\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>One price, all fees included\u003C\u002Fstrong> — paid securely by card or EFT.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\u003Ch2>Search now\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Have the erf number and suburb ready? \u003Ca href=\"\u002F\">Search the property now\u003C\u002Fa>, or check \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fresources\u002Fcheck-property-ownership\">who owns a property\u003C\u002Fa> and its \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fresources\u002Fproperty-transfer-process\">transfer history\u003C\u002Fa> while you are there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Frequently asked questions\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Ch3>Can I find a property owner with just an erf number?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Yes — together with the suburb or township. Enter both and order a Property Search Report to see the registered owner and the property's deeds records.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Why do I need the suburb as well as the erf number?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Erf numbers are only unique within a township, and every township has its own Erf 1. The suburb tells the search which township's erf you mean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>What does an erf-number search cost?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Searching is free; you pay only when you order a report. The Property Search Report — owner, bond and transfer history — is R225, with all registry fees included.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>What if I have the address but not the erf number?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>You can search by address instead and the result includes the erf number, so either route gets you to the same record.\u003C\u002Fp>","How to Search Property by Erf Number — Owner & Deeds Records","Have an erf number but no address? Look up the registered owner, title deed and transfer history of any SA property by erf number — instantly, no login.",2,"2026-03-29 07:56:13",[60,63,65],{"label":61,"url":62},"Home","\u002F",{"label":29,"url":64},"\u002Fguides",{"label":8,"url":12}]