Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa August 2015 | Page 33

ACQUIRING

How To Avoid Deeds Office Delays

What buyers and sellers can do to assist conveyancers
BY MEGAN DIENER AND ULRIK STRANDVIK

W

hen transfering a property from a seller to
a buyer, the transfering attorney will apply
for a tax clearance certificate from the
South African Revenue Service (SARS) and a rates
clearance certifcate from the local Deeds Office at the
Municipality.
However, the state run Deeds Office is currently
experiencing delays. Rates clearance certificates and
title deeds are not delivered timeously, resulting in
properties not getting registered. This is having a
negative effect on the property market. From January
2014 to May 2015 there were 103 workdays lost due
to inefficient staff, systems, poor equipment and IT
problems. Backlogs of registration of property transfers
are effecting not only conveyancers but also home
owners, estate agents and buy-to-let investors.

“Both buyers and sellers must
ensure that all outstanding
municipal rates and taxes
are fully paid up.”
Other issues that cause delays include the
cancellation of the seller’