Property Transfer Costs in South Africa
A property budget needs to cover more than the purchase price. Hugh Raichlin Attorneys helps Johannesburg buyers and sellers understand the legal work, tax and third-party costs that may arise in a transfer, and request an itemised estimate based on the actual transaction.
The initial telephone discussion is free and helps us understand whether the firm can assist. A paid consultation is arranged where appropriate. We aim to respond within one working day after receiving your enquiry.
Attorney, Notary & Conveyancer
Conveyancing advice to help you understand the costs and responsibilities in a property transfer.
This page is for you if…
- You want to understand the cash needed before registration.
- You are comparing conveyancing estimates and need to identify what is included.
- A new bond, an existing bond or clearance amounts may affect your budget.
- You are selling and want to understand deductions and settlement amounts.
- You need clarification before signing an offer or paying a request received by email.
How Hugh Raichlin Attorneys can help
Separate professional work from third-party amounts
We explain which items relate to the legal work, which are paid to institutions and which depend on the property or transaction. A lower headline professional fee does not necessarily mean a lower total transfer cost.
Understand the transaction before estimating
The purchase price, buyer and seller, property type, financing and the agreement affect the information needed. Trusts, companies, deceased estates and non-standard transactions may require additional work or advice.
Coordinate the property instructions
Abigail Sher's conveyancing practice supports the transfer process and the explanation of the legal scope. A new bond or cancellation may involve a separately appointed attorney acting on lender instructions. Do not assume that one estimate includes every attorney's work.
Key cost categories to understand
A transfer budget is more than one figure. The useful categories are professional fees, tax, third-party disbursements, new bond costs, existing bond cancellation, and other sale or occupation costs — and an itemised estimate should clarify which amount is which.
| Cost category | What it concerns | What the estimate must clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer duty or VAT | Tax on the property transaction, not the conveyancer's professional fee. | Which tax treatment applies, whether the sale is subject to VAT instead of transfer duty, and the effective date. |
| Transfer attorney's professional fees | The agreed conveyancing work for the transfer. | The scope, whether VAT and any extra work are included, and how it differs from disbursements. |
| Deeds Office and administrative disbursements | Registration and administrative items paid to institutions. | Which lines are disbursements rather than further attorney's fees. |
| New bond registration and lender costs | Legal and lender charges arising from financing. | The lender's requirements, the appointed bond attorney, and whether the estimate is separate from the transfer estimate. |
| Existing bond settlement and cancellation | Repaying existing debt and cancelling the registered security. | That settlement repays debt and is not simply a conveyancing fee, and the cancellation process. |
| Municipal and community-scheme amounts | Rates, levies, clearances and adjustments before registration. | Which amounts are estimates, advances, arrears or adjustments. |
| Other sale and occupation costs | Commission, certificates, occupational arrangements and moving. | Whether each item is covered by the transfer estimate or depends on the agreement. |
Transfer duty and VAT treatment per SARS guidance. No rates, thresholds or tariffs are published on this page.
Ask which treatment and date apply
A property sale subject to VAT is not also charged transfer duty on that same sale. VAT on professional services is a separate question. Ask which treatment and effective date apply rather than applying a generic percentage.
One estimate may not cover every attorney's work
A new bond or cancellation may involve a separately appointed attorney acting on lender instructions. Do not assume that one estimate includes every attorney's work, or that a lower headline professional fee means a lower total transfer cost.
Read the estimate in three parts
Legal work
Identify the professional work, its scope and any VAT.
Tax and registration
Identify the applicable tax and official registration amounts.
Property and finance
Identify lender, clearance and agreement-dependent items.
An itemised estimate explains the categories; it is not a guarantee that all amounts are final.
The next steps
- 1Provide the property details, price, transaction stage and financing outline in a short enquiry.
- 2Make the offer and relevant information available when the firm requests them.
- 3Ask for the legal scope, itemised estimate, assumptions and expected payment stages.
- 4Verify payment instructions using an established contact method before transferring money.
Information to prepare
These details help an estimate; a brief enquiry is enough to start.
- Property address, type and proposed purchase price.
- Whether you are the buyer, seller or authorised representative.
- The offer to purchase and any amendments, when requested.
- Whether a new bond or existing bond is involved.
- Whether a company, trust or deceased estate is involved.
- Any quote or payment request you need explained.
- Intended occupation date and any relevant deadline.
Common mistakes to avoid
Avoid treating transfer duty as the entire cost, comparing estimates with different exclusions, relying on a rate from an older transaction or paying changed banking details without independent verification.
Relevant experience for your matter
Abigail Sher is an attorney, notary and conveyancer at Hugh Raichlin Attorneys. The firm assists with residential and commercial property transfers and coordinates connected property and estate issues where required.
Abigail Sher
Attorney, Notary & Conveyancer
LLB · University of South Africa
Abigail Sher is an attorney, notary and conveyancer at HRA. She assists with residential and commercial property transfers, notarial work, antenuptial contracts and deceased estates.
View Abigail's profileFrequently asked questions
Are transfer duty and conveyancing fees the same?
No. Transfer duty is a tax. Conveyancing fees relate to the legal work. An estimate should identify tax, professional fees and disbursements separately.
Does a cash purchase remove all transfer costs?
No. The absence of a new bond removes that particular financing work, not the transfer work, applicable tax or every other transaction cost.
Are new-bond costs included in the transfer estimate?
Not necessarily. Bond registration may be handled by a separately appointed attorney. Check exactly which work each estimate covers.
Why can a seller need money before registration?
Lender requirements, clearance figures and other obligations may arise before the transfer completes. Ask for the expected amounts and timing for your property.
Is this page a quotation?
No. It explains the categories to discuss. HRA can assess the transaction details and the proposed legal scope before providing an appropriate estimate.
Where should I check the applicable transfer-duty rates?
Use the SARS transfer-duty guidance and confirm the relevant acquisition date and transaction treatment with the conveyancer. Do not use an old table simply because it appears in a search result.
Related services
Legal Insights
Property transfer explained: what happens after the offer is signed?
Follow the practical stages of a property transfer, identify common dependencies and prepare documents before delays affect your transaction.
Who chooses the conveyancer? Settle the appointment before signing
The seller ordinarily nominates the conveyancer, but the agreement matters. Compare roles, fees, communication and payment safeguards before signing.
Property-transfer fraud: checks that matter before money or ownership moves
Check the conveyancer, seller authority, payment instructions and transaction documents. Learn why registration does not make every fraud dispute disappear.
Useful sources
- SARS Transfer DutyExplains who pays transfer duty and how declarations and payments work, with links to rates for checking a property budget.
- SARS - VAT versus transfer dutyAnswers whether a property sale can be subject to both VAT and transfer duty, a common question when comparing transfer estimates.
Property transfer and conveyancing fees
For property transfers and conveyancing, HRA accepts enquiries where the property value is R1.5 million or more. Please tell us whether you are the buyer or seller, the approximate property value and the location.
The standard initial consultation fee of R3,450 including VAT applies after scope confirmation.
Feedback on working with Abigail Sher
Selected feedback shared about HRA. Excerpts are labelled. Every matter is different.
“Hi Hugh, thank you very much to you and your team for the excellent professional service provided to us. Especially Abigail who always remain calm and professional no matter how much pressure there was.”
Tommy Steyn
Facebook recommendation
Know what you are budgeting for before the transfer
Send a short outline of the property transaction. Ask us to explain the legal scope, cost categories and information needed for an itemised estimate.
How to get started
- 1
Send a brief enquiry, or start an AI-assisted WhatsApp enquiry at any time.
- 2
The initial telephone discussion is free and helps the firm assess whether it can assist. Where the firm may be able to help, an attorney ordinarily follows up within one working day after receipt.
- 3
Where appropriate, a paid consultation is arranged. Its scope and fees are confirmed separately; consultations are usually in person, with remote arrangements considered where suitable.
WhatsApp AI gathers initial information; it does not provide legal advice. An enquiry does not confirm an appointment, acceptance of a matter or action on a deadline.