[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-title-deeds-explained":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,"schema_type":15,"status":16,"featured":17,"sort_order":18,"created_at":19,"updated_at":19,"related":20,"breadcrumbs":59},52,"628dc820-6aec-11f1-b42b-06d846a607f9","deedsweb","title-deeds-explained","What Is a Title Deed? A Plain-English Guide for SA Property Owners","A title deed records who owns a property and on what terms — not just a name on a page. Here is what it is, how to read one, and the misconceptions to ignore.","\u003Cp>Ask most South Africans what a title deed is and they will tell you it is the paper that proves you own your home. That is true, but it undersells the document. A title deed is really a small legal map: it records \u003Cem>who\u003C\u002Fem> owns a property, \u003Cem>how\u003C\u002Fem> they came to own it, and \u003Cem>on what terms\u003C\u002Fem> they may use it. Learn to read those three things and the deed stops being an intimidating government document and becomes one of the most useful pages of paper you own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>This guide walks through where the title deed sits in South Africa's ownership system, how to read one section by section, and the misconceptions that trip up first-time owners. If you want the shorter \"what does it contain and how do I get a copy\" version, our partner site covers that — but here we are going deeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Where the title deed fits in the system\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>South Africa runs a \u003Cstrong>registration\u003C\u002Fstrong> system, not a possession system. You do not own a property because you hold the paper or because you live there — you own it because the Registrar of Deeds has recorded you as the owner in the national deeds registry. The title deed is the certificate of that registration. The original stays at the relevant \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fdeeds-offices\">Deeds Office\u003C\u002Fa>; what you (or your bank) hold is a copy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is why a lost title deed is an inconvenience rather than a catastrophe: the authoritative record lives at the Deeds Office, and a certified copy can be issued. It is also why a handshake, a deposit, or even moving in does not make you the owner — only registration does.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>How a title deed comes to exist\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Every title deed is the end of a journey called \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fguides\u002Fproperty-transfer-explained\">transfer\u003C\u002Fa>. When a property changes hands, a conveyancing attorney prepares the new deed, the seller's existing deed is cancelled, any bond is registered or settled, and the Registrar of Deeds examines and records the lot. Only when the Registrar signs does the new owner's title deed exist. Understanding that sequence explains a lot — including why transfer takes weeks, not days, and why your name only appears on the deed at the very end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Reading a title deed, section by section\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Most South African title deeds follow the same skeleton. Once you know the parts, any deed becomes readable:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>The deed number.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Top of the page, something like \u003Cem>T12345\u002F2019\u003C\u002Fem>. The \"T\" marks a transfer deed and the year tells you when it registered. This is the deed's fingerprint — it is what you quote when ordering a copy.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>The preparing conveyancer.\u003C\u002Fstrong> The attorney who drew the deed certifies its correctness. Their name sits near the top.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>The transferor and transferee.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Plain language for seller and buyer — the parties to this particular transfer, with identity or registration numbers.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>The property description.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Not a street address but a legal description: the erf, portion or unit number, the township, and the extent in square metres. If the numbers puzzle you, our guide to \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fproperty-types\u002Ferf\">erf numbers\u003C\u002Fa> unpacks them.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>The cause and consideration.\u003C\u002Fstrong> How ownership passed (usually a sale) and the price paid.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>The conditions of title.\u003C\u002Fstrong> The fine print — covered next.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\u003Ch2>Conditions, servitudes and restrictions — the part that actually bites\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>The section new owners skip is the one that matters most in practice. A title deed can carry:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Servitudes\u003C\u002Fstrong> — rights other people hold over your land. A neighbour's right of way across your driveway, or a municipal right to run a sewer line under your garden, is a servitude that travels with the property no matter who owns it.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Restrictive conditions\u003C\u002Fstrong> — limits on what you may do. Older suburbs often carry a \"one dwelling per erf\" condition or building-line restrictions that pre-date the town-planning scheme.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Reservations\u003C\u002Fstrong> — rights the previous owner or developer kept back, such as mineral rights.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>These conditions do not appear on a property listing and an estate agent may not know them, but they can decide whether you may build a granny flat, subdivide, or run a business from home. Reading them \u003Cem>before\u003C\u002Fem> you buy is far cheaper than discovering them afterwards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Three misconceptions worth clearing up\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\"My municipal account proves I own the property.\"\u003C\u002Fstrong> It does not. The rates account shows who is billed, which is often but not always the registered owner. Only the deeds registry is authoritative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\"The bank owns my house until the bond is paid.\"\u003C\u002Fstrong> No — you are the registered owner from day one. The bank holds a \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fguides\u002Fproperty-bonds-explained\">bond\u003C\u002Fa> (a registered security) over the property, not ownership. That is a separate endorsement on the deed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\"Sectional title means I do not get a title deed.\"\u003C\u002Fstrong> You do. A flat or townhouse in a scheme has its own sectional title deed for your unit, plus a share of the common property. Our guide on \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fproperty-types\u002Fsectional-title\">sectional title versus freehold\u003C\u002Fa> explains the difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>When you will actually need it\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>You rarely look at your title deed — until you sell, raise a second bond, subdivide, settle a boundary dispute, or wind up a deceased estate. In each case the conditions of title and the exact property description suddenly matter. Knowing what your deed says, and being able to lay hands on a copy, turns those moments from stressful to routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>How to check ownership or get a copy\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>You do not need to visit a Deeds Office in person. You can look up the registered owner and order a copy of any South African title deed online by address, owner name or erf number through \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.deedscheck.co.za\">DeedsCheck\u003C\u002Fa>. It is the fastest way to confirm what a deed says before you make an offer, or to replace a copy you have mislaid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Frequently asked questions\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Ch3>Is the title deed the same as proof of ownership?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>It is the document that records ownership, but the authoritative proof is the entry in the national deeds registry, which the deed certifies. If your copy is lost, your ownership is not — a certified copy can be issued from the Deeds Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Who holds the original title deed?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>The original is kept at the Deeds Office where the property is registered. If you have a bond, your bank usually holds the owner's copy as security until the bond is settled; otherwise you keep it yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>Can I read a property's title deed before I buy it?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>Yes. Title deed information is part of the public deeds record. You can look up a property's ownership and order its deed online before making an offer, which is the best time to check for servitudes or restrictive conditions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3>What do the conditions of title actually control?\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp>They can limit building lines, restrict subdivision, reserve rights such as minerals, or grant servitudes like rights of way. They bind every future owner, so they matter regardless of who holds the property now.\u003C\u002Fp>","guides",null,"What Is a Title Deed? A Plain-English Guide for SA Owners","A title deed is the document that records who owns a property in South Africa — and on what terms. What it is, how to read one, and the myths to ignore.","Article","published",false,20,"2026-06-18 08:04:52",[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,"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":6,"slug":38,"title":39,"excerpt":40,"body":41,"category":11,"tags":12,"meta_title":39,"meta_description":42,"schema_type":43,"status":16,"featured":44,"sort_order":45,"created_at":46,"updated_at":47},6,"68b0fb33-3b5d-2158-16c2-61070373c9cf","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","2026-06-19 06:39:59",{"id":49,"uid":50,"site":24,"slug":51,"title":52,"excerpt":53,"body":54,"category":29,"tags":12,"meta_title":55,"meta_description":56,"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}]