# Transfer costs when buying a house in South Africa - Canonical URL: https://bond.co.za/guides/transfer-and-bond-costs - Author: Neil B - Published: 2026-09-19 - Last updated: 2026-09-29 1. [Home](https://bond.co.za/) 3. [Guides](https://bond.co.za/guides) 5. [Costs & fees](https://bond.co.za/guides/costs-and-fees) 7. Transfer costs when buying a house [Costs & fees](https://bond.co.za/guides/costs-and-fees) Transfer costs when buying a house in South Africa are three separate charges paid to get the property registered in the buyer's name: SARS transfer duty, the conveyancing attorney's fee, and the Deeds Office transfer fee. On a R1,500,000 purchase, bond.co.za calculates these at R 47 968,25, as at 2026-09-06 — before any bond registration costs. By [Neil B](https://bond.co.za/expert) · Checked against published primary sources · Published 2026-09-19 · Last verified 2026-09-29 [Calculate your own costs](https://bond.co.za/transfer-cost-calculator)[Download the cost checklist](#cost-checklist) Transfer costsCosts & feesNot legal or financial advice The basics ## What do transfer costs pay for when you buy a house in South Africa? Three different recipients charge three different amounts — all triggered by the sale itself, not by whether you use a bond. SARS transfer duty A once-off tax paid to the South African Revenue Service on the property's value, charged on a sliding scale. Nothing is payable on the first R1,210,000 of the purchase price. Source: South African Revenue Service (SARS). Effective 2026-04-01, verified 2026-09-06. Conveyancing (transfer) attorney fee The seller appoints a conveyancing attorney to draft and lodge the transfer documents, but South African convention is for the buyer to pay this fee. It follows the Law Society of South Africa's recommended guideline, plus 15% VAT. Source: Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) recommended conveyancing fee guideline. Effective 2026-07-01, verified 2026-09-06. Deeds Office transfer fee A fixed government fee charged to register the transfer of ownership itself. It is based on the purchase price, and is separate from any Deeds Office fee charged on the bond side of the same transaction. Source: South African Deeds Office Schedule of Fees of Office. Effective 2026-04-01, verified 2026-08-15. Transfer costs apply whether or not you use a bond — a cash buyer pays them too. If you are financing the purchase, bond registration costs (the bond attorney fee, the Deeds Office bond fee and the bank's initiation fee) are charged separately, on top of these. For that side of the transaction, see [bond registration costs](https://bond.co.za/guides/bond-registration-costs) and [bond registration vs transfer costs](https://bond.co.za/guides/bond-registration-vs-transfer-costs-south-africa). Ours, worked ## How much does it cost to transfer ownership of a house in South Africa? Computed with bond.co.za's own transfer cost calculator methodology — the same figures the calculator itself produces, not a generic estimate. Transfer costs by purchase price in South Africa | Purchase price | SARS transfer duty | Attorney fee (incl. VAT) | Deeds Office fee | Total transfer cost | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | R 800 000,00 | R 0,00 | R 25 340,25 | R 1 346,00 | R 26 686,25 | | R 1 000 000,00 | R 0,00 | R 30 216,25 | R 1 546,00 | R 31 762,25 | | R 1 500 000,00 | R 8 700,00 | R 37 530,25 | R 1 738,00 | R 47 968,25 | | R 2 000 000,00 | R 33 786,00 | R 42 406,25 | R 1 738,00 | R 77 930,25 | | R 3 000 000,00 | R 107 356,00 | R 54 596,25 | R 2 408,00 | R 164 360,25 | All figures as at 2026-09-06. Transfer duty follows the South African Revenue Service (SARS), effective 2026-04-01. Attorney fees follow the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) recommended conveyancing fee guideline, effective 2026-07-01. Deeds Office fees follow South African Deeds Office Schedule of Fees of Office, effective 2026-04-01. Your conveyancer's written quote is the number that governs your transaction — this table is an illustration, not a quote. On the same R1,500,000 purchase with a R1,350,000 bond (a 90% loan-to-value bond), the transfer-side and bond-side costs together total R 90 836,00 — about 6.1% of the purchase price — as at 2026-09-06, before the deposit itself. That combined figure is what most buyers mean when they ask about “the costs of buying a house in South Africa”, rather than transfer costs alone. ## Who pays transfer costs, the buyer or the seller? The buyer pays transfer costs when buying a house in South Africa. SARS transfer duty, the conveyancing attorney's fee and the Deeds Office transfer fee are all budgeted for and paid by the purchaser. The seller typically pays the estate agent's commission and settles any outstanding bond, plus their own bond cancellation costs, out of the sale proceeds. Parties can agree otherwise in the offer to purchase, but buyer-pays-transfer-costs is the standard default in South African property transactions. ## Is there a way to avoid or reduce transfer duty? Transfer duty is not payable at all on properties priced at R1,210,000 or below, per the South African Revenue Service (SARS) table effective 2026-04-01. Buying directly from a VAT-registered developer also avoids transfer duty, because that sale carries VAT instead — the two taxes are mutually exclusive on one transaction. Beyond these two genuine exemptions, transfer duty is a statutory tax with no legitimate way to reduce it by restructuring an ordinary resale purchase. Your own numbers ## How do I calculate the transfer costs for my own property? The table above uses illustrative purchase prices — your own price will land between the rows, or above them. bond.co.za's [transfer cost calculator](https://bond.co.za/transfer-cost-calculator) applies the current SARS transfer duty table, the Law Society conveyancing fee guideline and the Deeds Office fee schedule to your exact purchase price, and shows the line-item total in seconds — the same sourced figures used to build the table on this page. Toggle in a bond amount and it adds the bond-side costs too, for the full cash-to-close figure. [Open the transfer cost calculator](https://bond.co.za/transfer-cost-calculator) ## The Complete Home Buyer Cost Checklist Every upfront cost on a South African home purchase — transfer and bond registration alike — who charges it, and when it is due, in a printable PDF. ### Get the Complete Home Buyer Cost Checklist A printable PDF checklist of every upfront cost, who charges it, and when it is due — so nothing catches you off guard. Free to use. bond.co.za is an independent educational resource — we do not provide credit, origination, legal or conveyancing services. [About our independence](https://bond.co.za/how-we-make-money). FAQ ## Quick answers about transfer costs Who pays transfer costs when buying a house in South Africa — the buyer or the seller?+ The buyer pays transfer costs when buying a house in South Africa. SARS transfer duty, the conveyancing attorney's fee and the Deeds Office transfer fee are all budgeted for and paid by the purchaser, not the seller. The seller typically pays the estate agent's commission and settles any outstanding bond and its own bond cancellation costs out of the sale proceeds. Parties can agree otherwise in the offer to purchase, but buyer-pays-transfer-costs is the standard default. What do transfer costs actually pay for when you buy a house?+ Transfer costs when buying a house in South Africa pay for three separate things: SARS transfer duty, a once-off tax on the property's value; the conveyancing attorney's fee for preparing and lodging the transfer documents; and the Deeds Office fee to register the new title deed in the buyer's name. None of these amounts are optional and none go toward the deposit or the purchase price — they are cash required over and above what the buyer pays the seller. How much does it cost to transfer ownership of a house in South Africa?+ Transfer costs when buying a house in South Africa typically run from around R26,700 on an R800,000 property, where no transfer duty is payable, to well over R160,000 on a R3,000,000 property once transfer duty applies. As at 6 September 2026, bond.co.za's own transfer-cost table shows the SARS transfer duty, conveyancing attorney fee and Deeds Office fee at common purchase prices — the total rises with the property's value, so there is no single flat figure that applies to every purchase. Is there any way to reduce or avoid paying transfer duty in South Africa?+ Transfer duty when buying a house in South Africa is not payable at all on properties priced at R1,210,000 or below, per the SARS transfer duty table effective 1 April 2026. Buying directly from a VAT-registered developer also avoids transfer duty, because that sale is subject to VAT instead — the two taxes are mutually exclusive on the same transaction. Beyond these two genuine exemptions, transfer duty is a statutory tax and there is no legitimate way to reduce it by restructuring an ordinary resale purchase. How do I calculate the transfer costs for my own property purchase?+ The fastest way to calculate transfer costs for a specific property purchase in South Africa is bond.co.za's transfer cost calculator. It applies the current SARS transfer duty table, the Law Society conveyancing fee guideline and the Deeds Office fee schedule to the exact purchase price entered and shows the line-item total in seconds — the same sourced figures used to build the table on this page. Can transfer costs be included in your home loan?+ Usually not. Most South African buyers take a 100% bond or close to it, which leaves no headroom to add transfer costs, and registration fees are typically still payable in cash before transfer. Some lenders allow an extra bond amount to cover these costs, but you must qualify for a larger loan and you pay interest on the fees. ## Informational disclaimer This guide is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice, and nothing on this page guarantees a specific fee, approval or savings outcome. Transfer duty tables, conveyancing tariffs and Deeds Office fees change over time — always confirm your actual costs with your conveyancing attorney and SARS before signing an offer to purchase. For advice on your specific transaction, consult a qualified conveyancing attorney or financial adviser. Last updated: 2026-09-29. Cost data last verified 2026-09-06. Next review expected when the transfer duty table, conveyancing tariff or Deeds Office schedule changes. ## Related guides and tools [ Bond registration costsThe bond-side fees, charged only if you take out a home loan. ](https://bond.co.za/guides/bond-registration-costs)[ Bond registration vs transfer costsThe full split between the two cost buckets and who pays what. ](https://bond.co.za/guides/bond-registration-vs-transfer-costs-south-africa)[ Transfer duty on propertyThe SARS tax itself — 2026/27 brackets, thresholds and deadlines. ](https://bond.co.za/guides/transfer-duty)[ Attorney fees when buying a houseThe 2026 LSSA tariff scale both attorneys charge on. ](https://bond.co.za/guides/attorney-fees-buying-house-south-africa)[ The property transfer processWhat happens, stage by stage, from offer to registration. ](https://bond.co.za/guides/property-transfer-process-south-africa)[ Transfer cost calculatorRun every line item on your own purchase price and bond amount. ](https://bond.co.za/transfer-cost-calculator)[ What is a bond originator?How an originator fits in before an attorney is ever appointed. ](https://bond.co.za/guides/what-is-a-bond-originator)[ Bond initiation feeThe NCA maximum, the formula, and what capitalising it costs you. ](https://bond.co.za/guides/bond-initiation-fee) Ready to move forward? ## Check what you could qualify for A free estimate on screen, based on the details you enter — then take it to the banks of your choice, knowing your likely bond amount and all-in transfer costs before you make an offer. [Check what you qualify for](https://bond.co.za/#qualify) Keep reading ## More in costs & fees The most recently updated guides in this category. [Costs & fees](https://bond.co.za/guides/costs-and-fees) [Rates clearance certificate in South Africa: who pays, and how long it takes](https://bond.co.za/guides/rates-clearance-certificate-south-africa) The municipality’s certificate that rates and service charges for the two years before transfer are paid — required under the Municipal Property Rates Act before the Deeds Office can register, and usually the seller’s cost. Updated 02 Nov 20267 min read [Costs & fees](https://bond.co.za/guides/costs-and-fees) [Costs included in a home loan: what can be financed](https://bond.co.za/guides/costs-included-home-loan) A standard South African bond covers the purchase price only — but the bank initiation fee can be added to the loan, some lenders lend above 100% to absorb upfront costs, and transfer duty can never be financed. Updated 27 Oct 20266 min read [Costs & fees](https://bond.co.za/guides/costs-and-fees) [Home loan insurance requirements](https://bond.co.za/guides/home-loan-insurance) South African bonds require two kinds of cover: homeowners insurance for the building and credit life as a bank condition — with premiums capped by regulation and your right to use your own insurer. Updated 20 Oct 20267 min read [Browse all costs & fees guides →](https://bond.co.za/guides/costs-and-fees) > This is the Markdown version of [https://bond.co.za/guides/transfer-and-bond-costs](https://bond.co.za/guides/transfer-and-bond-costs); that HTML page is the canonical version of this content.