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Onah Attorneys Inc • Johannesburg
Property Transfer Attorneys – Transfers Without the Drag
A property transfer is the biggest financial transaction most people ever sign — and delays cost real money in occupational rent, penalty interest and collapsed deals. Our property team drives transfers from signed offer to registration in the Deeds Office, coordinating banks, SARS, municipalities and estate agents so your transaction never stalls in the queue.
Call 011 042 8039Free Case AssessmentWhen you need property transfer attorneys
Buying or selling residential property
Transfer duty and SARS clearance issues
Deceased estate property transfers
Divorce settlement transfers between former spouses
Sectional title transfers and levy clearance disputes
Commercial and industrial property transactions
Sale agreements — drafting and review before you sign
Delayed transfers stuck at rates clearance or bond cancellation
How we handle your matter
Sale agreement
Before signature, we review or draft the offer to purchase — suspensive conditions, fixtures, occupation and penalty clauses that prevent later wars.
FICA & instruction
We collect FICA, obtain title deed and bond details, and open the transfer alongside the bond and cancellation attorneys.
Clearances
We obtain SARS transfer duty receipts, municipal rates clearance and levy clearance — the three choke points we chase relentlessly.
Signature & lodgement
Parties sign transfer documents; we lodge simultaneously with bond and cancellation attorneys at the Deeds Office.
Registration & payout
On registration ownership passes, the bank pays out, and we account to seller and buyer with a final statement the same week.
Fees — transparent, agreed upfront
Conveyancing fees follow the prescribed tariff based on the purchase price — we quote the full landed cost upfront: transfer fees, transfer duty, deeds office levies and clearances, so there are zero surprises at signature.
Key legislation:
- Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937
- Transfer Duty Act 40 of 1949
- Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981
Frequently asked questions
How long does a property transfer take in South Africa?
A clean transfer takes 8–12 weeks from sale agreement to registration. Deceased estates, bond delays and municipal clearance backlogs are the common extenders — we manage all three actively.
Who pays the transfer costs — buyer or seller?
The buyer pays transfer fees and transfer duty; the seller pays bond cancellation costs, rates clearance amounts and agent commission, unless the sale agreement says otherwise.
What is transfer duty and when is it payable?
A SARS tax on property acquisitions above the exempt threshold (currently R1,210,000 — no duty below it). It must be paid before registration; we handle the SARS submission.
Can I choose my own transferring attorney?
Convention lets the seller nominate, but it is negotiable in the offer to purchase. Buyers with negotiating power increasingly insist on their own conveyancer.
What can delay my transfer?
The usual suspects: slow bond grant or cancellation figures, SARS queries, unpaid municipal accounts blocking rates clearance, and missing FICA. Weekly status chasing is half the job.
Do I need an attorney for a private sale between family?
Yes — every transfer must be executed by a conveyancer. Family sales still need valid agreements, SARS duty assessment (even at nil), and clearances.
Speak to an Attorney Today
Get straight answers about property transfer attorneys from a firm that fights to win. First consultation — no obligation, full confidentiality.
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