Any person looking to buy property in South Africa will have to deal with formal Deeds Office processes as part of registering the property in their name. The property’s title deeds are very important documents. But who is in charge of storing these documents? And more importantly, how do you go about the process of obtaining copies of them?
In short: these records are kept by the Deeds Office in the region where the property is located. Luckily, we no longer live in a time where it is necessary to show up, in person, at the Deeds Office to obtain information about a property in South Africa. In fact, in most cases, we can assist you with obtaining a property report with merely an address in hand.
Title deeds
This post will help you better understand the importance of title deeds, why you might need them, and how we can assist you with obtaining them.
Who needs title deeds?
Title deeds (the information about any property in South Africa) are official records containing information about who owns the title to a property. If you are interested in purchasing a property, a property lawyer (called a conveyancer) will check the title deeds to ensure the seller is legally entitled to sell the property.
Title deeds also contain details on whether there is a bond on the property. It also indicates if there is another interested buyer. These documents can also be helpful in gaining information on property boundaries and any rights of way through a property.
These reports can be helpful under a range of other circumstances, including:
- Property and identity fraud prevention
- Confirming a property’s title owner for sale, rental, or settlement purposes
- Verifying bond information to determine if property owners are up to date on payments
What can I see on a property report?
Here’s what you will generally find in a report if you request property information:
- A comprehensive description of the property, including size, boundaries, and exact position.
- Names and identification number of the legal owner/s of the property.
- Date of last transfer
- Purchase price of the property at last sale
- Factors that could potentially restrict the property’s sale
- An official Deeds Registry Office seal
When you request a property report, you can find out a great deal about any property. Aside from learning more about its legal owners, you can gain other information including ERF number, bond, and contact information. The report also indicates whether the property in question includes any burdens. Burdens are obligations to the property. These might include access and rights of way, restrictions on using the property for business purposes, and restrictions on altering the property.
Obtaining a deed or property file
Apostil.co.za can also obtain, through legal means and applications, apostilled copies of deeds to properties and other property documentation, should these be required.
How Apostil.co.za can help
Current service levels at the Deeds office are at an all-time low. Obtaining information about properties in South Africa can seem like a daunting task. That is why Apostil.co.za provides a fast and reliable service property information service that can aid the public as well as property professionals.
To learn more about this service and how we can help you gain information on a property, please get in touch with us right now.
