How Much Are Typical Conveyancing Fees in South Africa?

Conveyancing fees in South Africa are usually calculated on a sliding scale linked to the purchase price, rather than as one flat amount. The transfer fee and, where applicable, the bond-registration fee are separate professional charges; VAT is added to the attorney’s fee, while transfer duty, Deeds Office fees and other disbursements form separate transaction costs.

What “Conveyancing Fees” Actually Include

Conveyancing is the legal work required to transfer ownership of immovable property from the seller to the buyer and register that transfer in the Deeds Office. The conveyancer’s professional fee is only one part of the amount a buyer may see on a property-transfer quote.

• Transfer professional fee: the attorney’s fee for attending to the sale, checking the title, preparing the transfer documents and registering ownership.
• Bond-registration professional fee: a separate fee where the buyer finances the purchase with a mortgage bond. The bond attorney registers the bank’s security over the property.
• Statutory and third-party disbursements: amounts paid to the Deeds Office, SARS and other institutions, including rates-clearance costs payable to the municipality.
• VAT: charged on the conveyancer’s taxable professional services at the prevailing rate.
• File expenses: depending on the transaction, this can include postage, deeds searches, electronic filing, petition fees and trace reports.

A quote that calls the entire basket “conveyancing” can therefore be misleading. Ask for the professional fee, VAT, transfer duty, Deeds Office charges and other disbursements to be shown separately.

How the LSSA Tariff Sliding Scale Works

The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) publishes conveyancing tariff guidelines used as the reference point for professional fees. The scale links the fee to the consideration or purchase price: a higher-value transfer generally attracts a higher fee. It is not a single percentage that applies identically to every property, and it is not the same as a statutory tax.

The transfer and bond calculations are separate. If a bank nominates a bond attorney, that attorney quotes for the bond-registration work, while the transfer attorney quotes for the ownership transfer. A buyer may therefore receive two professional-fee components even though the transfer and bond are registered as part of the same overall transaction.

The guideline operates as a recommended maximum rather than an unavoidable fixed price. An attorney and client may agree a lower professional fee in writing. The current tariff figures should always be confirmed when the quote is issued because guidelines and statutory charges can change.

Typical Conveyancing Fees by Purchase-Price Bracket

The table gives a directional picture of how the transfer professional fee tends to move. It is not a quote and deliberately does not replace the current tariff or a review of the file.

Purchase-price bracket	Transfer professional fee, excluding VAT	Typical context
Up to R1,000,000	Lower end of the typical scale	Often a straightforward freehold transfer without a bond
R1,000,000–R3,000,000	Mid-range	A common residential price band; bond work may be additional
R3,000,000–R7,000,000	Upper-mid range	Transfer and bond work, or more detailed title and compliance work
R7,000,000 and above	Upper end of the scale	Higher consideration and potentially more complex compliance requirements
Bond registration	Charged separately on its own sliding scale	Applies when the purchase is financed by a mortgage bond

These brackets describe the direction of the fee, not an exact rand amount. The final quote depends on the current tariff, the transaction documents and any additional work required.

What Determines Whether a Quote Is at the Lower or Higher End?

Two properties with the same purchase price can still produce different quotes. The following features commonly affect the total:

• Bond work: bond registration is an additional professional service, not an automatic inclusion in the transfer fee.
• Sectional title: a unit transfer can require additional scheme documentation, levy information and review of body-corporate records.
• Existing bonds: cancellation work for the seller’s current bond can add a separate fee and disbursement.
• Multiple bonds: more than one bond or lender can require additional coordination and registrations.
• Deeds Office jurisdiction: if the conveyancer needs a correspondent attorney to attend at a different deeds office, that correspondent’s fee may be added.
• Title complications: servitudes, encroachments, an unregistered erf, missing documents or other title issues require further investigation.
• Compliance and clearance: rates-clearance figures and certificates, including electrical compliance documentation where relevant, may need to be obtained or followed up.

A low headline fee is not necessarily the cheapest complete transaction. Compare what work and disbursements are included before deciding.

Costs That Conveyancing Fees Do Not Cover

The attorney’s professional fee should not be confused with every cost connected with buying a property. Usually separate items include:

• Transfer duty: a tax paid to SARS by the buyer where applicable.
• Bank charges: bond initiation, administration and valuation fees are charged by the lender, not the conveyancer.
• Deeds Office fees: statutory registration charges payable in connection with the transfer or bond.
• Municipal and rates adjustments: amounts arising from the seller’s rates account and the apportionment agreed between the parties.
• Estate-agent commission: remuneration for the estate agent under the relevant mandate.
• Moving and insurance costs: household moving expenses and homeowner’s insurance are unrelated to the conveyancer’s fee.

Transfer Duty: The Cost Often Mistaken for the Legal Fee

Transfer duty is a tax on the acquisition of property. It is calculated according to the applicable SARS brackets and paid to SARS, usually through the conveyancer’s trust-account process before transfer can proceed. It is not payment to the attorney for legal work.

Because transfer duty can be a substantial part of the buyer’s total cash requirement, a conveyancer often lists it prominently beside the professional fee. The quote should make clear that the duty is a statutory amount and that the applicable brackets and rates must be checked for the date and facts of the transaction. Certain transactions, including some VAT-inclusive property sales, may be treated differently, so the conveyancer should confirm the position rather than assuming that transfer duty is payable in every case.

Bond Registration: The Second Conveyancing Fee

When a bank lends money for the purchase, the mortgage bond must be registered over the property at the Deeds Office. The bank normally nominates the bond attorney from its panel. That attorney charges a separate professional fee for preparing and registering the bond.

The bank’s loan arrangement may provide for the bond attorney’s fee to be paid from the transaction funds or added to the buyer’s loan-related costs, but the buyer remains responsible for the applicable fees and statutory Deeds Office charges. Confirm with the bank and both attorneys how the payment will be handled. A quote that shows only the transfer fee may not represent the buyer’s full legal cost where bond registration is required.

VAT and the Quoted Fee

Conveyancing attorneys’ professional services are taxable supplies, so VAT is added to the professional fee at the prevailing rate. The current standard VAT rate is 15%, subject to any future legislative change and the applicable tax treatment of the service.

VAT should be displayed clearly rather than hidden inside a rounded total. Statutory and pass-through amounts such as transfer duty and Deeds Office fees are not the attorney’s professional service and should be identified separately. Ask whether any administrative or third-party amount in the quote includes VAT, and request clarification where the description is unclear.

How to Read and Compare a Conveyancing Quote

A useful quote lets a buyer see what they are paying for and which figures are estimates. Look for separate lines for:

1. the transfer professional fee;
2. the bond-registration fee, if applicable;
3. VAT on the professional fees;
4. transfer duty, if applicable;
5. Deeds Office charges;
6. rates-clearance and municipal amounts; and
7. other known disbursements or cancellation work.

Before accepting, ask whether the quote is firm or estimated, which disbursements are capped, when payment is required, and what would trigger an uplift. Specifically ask about sectional title, existing-bond cancellation, multiple bonds, correspondent fees and title complications. This is a more meaningful comparison than choosing the lowest single number.

When Are Conveyancing Fees Paid?

The conveyancer commonly requests an initial deposit after instruction. That deposit may cover transfer duty and early disbursements needed to obtain certificates and prepare the file. The remaining balance is generally payable before registration or in accordance with the attorney’s written fee arrangement.

Transfer, payment of the purchase price and registration normally happen together on the registration date. If there is a bond, the bank pays out the loan amount in accordance with its conditions and the conveyancer’s trust-account process. The exact payment schedule depends on the sale agreement, the bank and the attorney’s mandate, so it should be confirmed at the start of the matter.

Conveyancing in Gauteng

The tariff and statutory framework apply nationally, but the relevant Deeds Office is determined by the property’s location, not simply by the address of the conveyancer. A Gauteng transaction may therefore involve the Johannesburg or Pretoria Deeds Office, depending on the property. Where an attorney practises outside the relevant deeds-office jurisdiction, a correspondent may be instructed and that cost should be disclosed.

Burger Huyser Attorneys lists Notarial & Conveyancing services as a practice area and has a qualified Notary and Conveyancer on staff. Amanda le Roux is listed as a Notary and Conveyancer at the Bedfordview branch. The firm takes instructions across Gauteng, including through its Linden, Bedfordview, Alberton, Sandton, Centurion, Pretoria, Roodepoort and Midrand offices. The relevant attorney can review the offer to purchase and explain the transfer, bond, duty and disbursement lines before instruction.

If you are buying or selling property and need a conveyancing quote, Burger Huyser Attorneys can guide you through the LSSA tariff, transfer-duty calculation and bond-registration process. The Bedfordview branch is listed at 45A Florence Avenue, Bedfordview, Johannesburg, and can be contacted on 011 201 7190. Bring the signed offer to purchase, bond approval if applicable, and the parties’ identity documents, and request a written quote that separates the professional fee, VAT, transfer duty, Deeds Office fees and any bond or cancellation work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical conveyancing fee in South Africa?

Conveyancing fees are charged on the LSSA tariff sliding scale and increase with the purchase price. Bond registration is a separate fee and VAT is added to the professional fee. The current tariff and the facts of the file must be confirmed before a quote can be given.

Is conveyancing the same as transfer duty?

No. Conveyancing is the attorney’s professional work for the transfer and, separately, bond registration. Transfer duty is a property-acquisition tax paid to SARS and is shown as a separate line item.

Who pays the conveyancing fees, the buyer or the seller?

The buyer commonly pays the transfer and bond professional fees plus VAT. The seller commonly pays rates-clearance costs and cancellation costs for an existing bond. The sale agreement can allocate costs differently, so the agreed terms must be checked.

Are conveyancing fees negotiable?

Yes. The LSSA tariff is a guideline maximum and the parties may agree a lower professional fee in writing. The scope of included work and disbursements should also be confirmed.

Why does my quote differ from an online calculator?

Online calculators commonly show only the transfer professional fee calculated from the purchase price. A full quote may also include VAT, transfer duty, Deeds Office fees, bond registration, cancellations and file-specific disbursements.

How long does the conveyancing process take?

A clean transfer commonly takes about six to ten weeks from instruction to registration, but bond approval, rates clearance, Deeds Office workload and complications can change the timeline.