Conveyancing and property transfers in South Africa
Freehold and sectional title transfers, estate transfers and sale agreements, handled personally by a conveyancer with three decades of practice.
Conveyancing services
Bartletts Inc. attends to the registration of property transactions in the Deeds Office for private individuals, families, executors, trusts and companies. Julian Bartlett has practised as a conveyancer since 1995 and handles each transfer personally.
- Transfers of freehold property, including houses, vacant land and smallholdings.
- Sectional title transfers, including apartments, townhouses and units in security and lifestyle estates.
- Deceased estate transfers, both to heirs and on a sale by the executor.
- Transfers between spouses on divorce or a change of marital regime, and transfers into or out of trusts and companies.
- Sale agreements and offers to purchase: drafting, review and advice before you sign.
- Lease agreements for residential and commercial property.
- Sectional title scheme matters, including scheme administration documents and exclusive use areas.
- Servitudes and notarial deeds affecting property. See notarial services.
Acting for sellers
As the seller's appointed conveyancer we obtain your bond cancellation figures, request the rates clearance from the municipality, arrange levy or HOA clearances, check that compliance certificates are in order and make sure the proceeds are paid to you on the day of registration.
Acting for purchasers
We explain the costs before you commit, collect the transfer duty and costs, coordinate with the bond attorneys appointed by your bank and keep you updated until the keys are yours. If you are buying from overseas, we can arrange for documents to be signed abroad.
Areas we serve
Our office is in Johannesburg, but conveyancers are able to attend to transfers anywhere in South Africa. We regularly act on property in:
- Conveyancing in Johannesburg (Gauteng)
- Conveyancing in Cape Town (Western Cape)
- Conveyancing in Knysna (Western Cape)
- Conveyancing in Plettenberg Bay (Western Cape)
- Conveyancing in St Francis Bay and Jeffreys Bay (Eastern Cape)
- Conveyancing in Eastern Cape (Eastern Cape)
- Conveyancing in Umhlanga (KwaZulu-Natal)
Fees. We provide a written quotation before you instruct us, showing our fee, Deeds Office fees, disbursements and the SARS transfer duty. You can estimate the duty yourself with our transfer duty calculator.
The process in brief
- Signed offer to purchaseThe agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties. We check it for suspensive conditions and deadlines.
- Opening the file and FICAWe verify the identity of the parties and obtain the title deed, the figures needed and the compliance certificates.
- Bond approval and guaranteesWhere the purchaser takes a bond, the bank instructs its bond attorney and issues guarantees for the price. We liaise with the bond attorneys and the bond cancellation attorneys.
- Signing and costsThe parties sign the transfer documents and the purchaser pays the transfer costs.
- ClearancesSARS issues the transfer duty receipt; the municipality, body corporate or HOA issue clearance certificates.
- Lodgement, examination and registrationDocuments are lodged at the Deeds Office, examined and registered, after which the seller is paid.
Frequently asked questions
What does a conveyancer do?
A conveyancer is an attorney who has passed the conveyancing examination and is authorised to prepare deeds and lodge them for registration in the Deeds Office. The transferring conveyancer acts on the seller's instruction, protects both parties' interests in the transfer process, and ensures that the purchase price is only paid to the seller once ownership is registered in the purchaser's name.
What documents do I need to provide?
Usually a certified copy of your identity document or passport, proof of residential address, your income tax number, and details of your marital status (including a copy of any ante-nuptial contract). Companies and trusts provide registration documents and resolutions. We send a checklist when we open the file.
Is sectional title transfer different from freehold?
The process is similar, but a sectional title transfer also requires a levy clearance certificate from the body corporate, and the purchaser becomes a member of the body corporate on registration. Estates with a home owners' association usually require an HOA clearance and consent as well.
When can the purchaser move in?
Occupation is agreed in the offer to purchase and does not have to coincide with registration. If the purchaser occupies before registration, or the seller stays on after it, the agreement should provide for occupational rent.