Conveyancing fees: What are you paying for?

When you're buying or selling a property, you're likely to encounter various costs and fees in addition to the purchase price. One of these expenses is conveyancing fees, which are essential to every property transaction. But what exactly do conveyancers do, and why are their services so important for both buyers and sellers? 

What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the process of transferring legal ownership of fixed property from one person – or a company or trust – to another. It involves a series of intricate steps to ensure that the property's legal transfer is executed correctly and in compliance with all necessary regulations. Conveyancers play a pivotal role in this process, and here's a closer look at their responsibilities:

1. Document review: Conveyancers begin by examining the deed of sale, ensuring it adheres to all legal requirements. They meticulously check for any discrepancies that could hinder the transaction.

2. Information collection: They collect crucial documentation from various sources, which may include the seller's bank, compliance certificates from the seller, and municipal rate clearance certificates. These documents are essential for verifying the property's legal status and ensuring there are no outstanding debts or encumbrances.

3. Drafting documents: Conveyancers are responsible for drafting numerous documents, including the power of attorney to pass transfer, declarations of marital status, identity, and solvency for both the seller and buyer, and any required bond registration documents. The preparation of these documents requires a keen understanding of legal terminology and precision in drafting.

4. Legal expertise: Conveyancers often handle complex transactions involving property subdivision, consolidation, or servitude registration. Their specialized knowledge and meticulous attention to detail are vital in these situations. They ensure that all legal requirements for these unique scenarios are met, providing a crucial layer of protection for all parties involved.

Why are conveyancers necessary?

The real estate transaction process can be time-consuming and complicated, especially when dealing with unique circumstances. Conveyancers are not just facilitators but also protectors of the rights of both buyers and sellers during one of the most significant transactions of their lives. Furthermore, property ownership is highly regulated by the government to maintain a high standard of land registration, emphasizing the importance of having qualified conveyancers involved.

To safeguard these standards, only attorneys who have successfully passed the national conveyancing examination are authorized to provide these services. In fact, no property sale can be concluded without the involvement of a qualified conveyancer. This ensures that all legal requirements are met and that the interests of all parties are protected.

The conveyancing process:

Once the sale agreement has been finalised by the property practitioner, three types of processes come into play, some of which occur simultaneously:

Bond registration conveyancer

• Registers the purchaser’s home loan.

• Home loan is approved by the bank.

• The bond conveyancer sources the title deed on the property, and engages with the transferring conveyancer for relevant documentation.

• Once guarantee’s are received from the transferring conveyancer, the bond registration conveyancer presents those to the purchaser for signing and instructs the purchaser to pay home loan registration costs.

• The bond conveyancer forwards guarantees to the transferring conveyancer.

Bond cancellation conveyancer

• The bank holding the home loan receives a request from the transferring conveyancer to calculate the outstanding amount of the home loan, and issue cancellation figures and the title deed to the new bank’s cancellation conveyancer.

• The bond cancellation conveyancer forwards a copy of the title deed and the cancellation figures to the transferring conveyancer.

• The transferring conveyancer must forward cancellation guarantees to the bond cancellation conveyancer.

Bond transferring conveyancer

• Requests cancellation figures and the release of the title deed from the cancellation conveyancer.

• Requests any levy and rates clearance figures from the cancellation conveyancer if required.

• Any other supporting documents from the seller’s home loan provider, are also requested.

Once the clearance figures are received, and guarantees have been issued by the new bond registration conveyancer, the transferring conveyancer draws up the transfer documents, and submits those to the new bond registration conveyancers, along with a copy of the draft title deed.

• Purchaser and seller sign the transfer documents

• Buyer pays transfer costs

• Transfer duty clearance is acquired.

In receipt of the guarantees, the transferring conveyancer forwards those to the home loan cancellation conveyancer and starts the lodgement process at the Deeds Office.

Who pays for conveyancing fees?

Conveyancing fees are typically paid by the buyer, as conventionally, conveyancers are appointed by the seller. This practice exists because sellers are considered to be at greater risk during the transaction, and they have more to lose if things go awry. However, it's important to note that neither this arrangement nor the buyer covering the fees is set in stone. Buyers and sellers can negotiate different terms in their agreement of sale, giving them flexibility in sharing or covering these costs.

The cost of conveyancing is determined by the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA). Note, however, that the LSSA only provides a guideline, which allows some room for negotiation of the fees.

The value of conveyancers

While it's true that conveyancing fees can be a substantial expense in the property buying process, the value that good conveyancers provide extends far beyond merely fulfilling a legal requirement. Without them, the property transaction process would be intimidatingly complex. Thanks to their expertise, most property sales proceed smoothly and efficiently. They act as the essential link between all parties involved, ensuring that the transfer of ownership is executed correctly.

In addition to their legal responsibilities, conveyancers offer the following benefits:

1. Risk mitigation: Conveyancers play a crucial role in mitigating the risks associated with property transactions. They ensure that the property's title is clear and that there are no hidden legal issues that could jeopardize the buyer's or seller's interests. This thorough due diligence helps prevent costly legal disputes in the future.

2. Streamlined process: Conveyancers are experts in managing the complex paperwork and regulatory requirements involved in property transactions. They ensure that all documents are completed accurately and submitted on time, keeping the transaction on track.

3. Facilitating communication: Conveyancers serve as intermediaries between the buyer, seller, banks, and government agencies. Their role includes ensuring that all parties are informed and in compliance with the transaction's progress. Effective communication can prevent misunderstandings and delays.

The legal requirement and protection

Conveyancers are not optional; they are a legal requirement in property transactions. This mandate exists to protect the rights of both buyers and sellers and to maintain a high standard of land registration. Government authorities take property ownership very seriously, and conveyancers play a pivotal role in upholding these standards.