How to check title deeds in South Africa: meaning and offices

How to check title deeds in South Africa: meaning and offices

A title deed is one document any landowner should have to prove ownership of land. To prove this legal document's authenticity, one ought to learn how to check title deeds. The process may differ depending on your area of residence in South Africa. The bottom line is that the process is easy and can spare you legal drama.

what is a title deed
How to check title deeds in South Africa. Photo: pexels.com, @Kampus Production
Source: UGC

If you own land in South Africa and want to know how to check title deeds, you can do it online or get assistance at your nearest land reform office. Important remember to provide accurate information when checking a title deed in SA. Why? Well, property ownership is a highly sensitive matter.

How to check title deeds in South Africa

Initially, when individuals wanted to check their land documents, they had to go to the deeds office to seek their required help. Thanks to technological advancement, most people can now check their deeds via a mobile phone.

Read also

Online PSiRA verification process: everything you ought to know

These documents can be searched online at my deed search South Africa or DeedsWeb, the official site of the National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. It disseminates information about all matters involving property ownership.

What do you need to get a title deed in South Africa?

If you want to check for this legal manuscript using the deed search, then here are the details you must have:

  • Full name and identity number of the property owner, or at least their date of birth.
  • The correct erf number and township or farm name and number.

How to obtain a copy of a deed or document

Where to get your title deed in South Africa? To obtain a copy of a deed or document from a deeds registry, you must:

  1. Visit the registrar of deeds in person.
  2. Proceed to the information desk, where an official will assist you in filling out a mandated form and explaining the procedure.
  3. Request that the property be searched.
  4. At the cashier's office, pay the appropriate fee.
  5. The receipt number will be allocated to your copy of the title.

Read also

How to change banking details for SASSA in 2024: Everything to know

How to check title deeds online

deeds office
The official mydeedsearch website. Photo: mydeedsearch.co.za
Source: UGC

Some deeds offices provide online access through a portal called Deedsweb. Accessing information electronically can save you time and effort. Below is step-by-step guide you can follow:

  1. Visit the official mydeedsearch South Africa.
  2. Click on "Start Your Search Now".
  3. From the drop-down menu, select the option you need.
  4. If you opt for "Property Search", click on "Request Search".
  5. Fill in the required details and submit your search.

How to change the name on property title deeds?

To begin the procedure of name correction, the proprietor must get a document from the local administration certifying that the names belong to the same individual. In the case of agricultural land, a letter of authorization from the local land control board is required.

How much does it cost to do a deed search?

Besides people enquiring about the working time of the deeds office in Cape Town, another famous inquiry is the cost of the service.

Read also

How to register a business in South Africa in 2024

If you want to do a property search, you will be required to pay R200. Likewise, if you wish to do a person search (single deeds office), you must pay R200.

Can I do a title search myself?

What is a title deed when buying a house?
How to change the name on property title deeds. Photo: pexels.com, @Anna Shvets
Source: UGC

Deed Search is a user-friendly website that can be accessed from anywhere, regardless of whether in the comfort of your house or workstation. The site is easy to navigate and has helped eliminate the previous government bureaucracy.

How to check title deeds in South Africa
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

What is a title deed?

A title deed is a registered legal document which evidences ownership in respect of a defined piece of land or an apartment in a block of flats.

A title deed example typically includes important details such as the property's location, the title number, and the owner's information. These key elements provide essential information about the property's legal ownership and serve as evidence of ownership rights.

Read also

Payoneer South Africa: how to set up and withdraw money from your account

How long does it take to get a title deed in South Africa?

After registration, the deeds office takes ten days to transmit a title deed to the conveyancer. This is due to the necessity to execute administrative tasks such as numbering, applying an authenticating stamp of office, performing quality assurance procedures, recording information, and scanning for archival purposes.

What is a title deed when buying a house?

A title deed is a legal document proving real estate or property ownership. It is an important document that transfers ownership rights from the seller to the buyer when purchasing a home. It describes the property's characteristics, such as its legal description, boundaries, and any applicable encumbrances or restrictions.

To prove the ownership of their possessions in South Africa, one ought to look for it manually in the Deeds registry or online at several platforms like DeedsWeb. This guide will help you learn how to check title deeds both online and manually.

Read also

Express police clearance South Africa: All you need to know

Briefly.co.za recently published an article on much civil engineers earn in South Africa. Civil engineers are the masterminds behind the world's skyscrapers and other infrastructure.

Their responsibilities include planning, designing, developing, and maintaining infrastructure systems while avoiding environmental damage. Their degrees and level of experience frequently determine civil engineers' monthly salaries.

Source: Briefly News

Online view pixel