Conveyancing Calculator South Africa
Estimate property transfer costs including conveyancing attorney fees
Conveyancing fees are regulated by the Legal Practice Council. This calculator provides estimates — actual fees may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is conveyancing?
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership. A conveyancing attorney handles the registration at the Deeds Office.
How are conveyancing fees calculated?
Fees are based on the LPC tariff guidelines, calculated as a percentage of the purchase price with a sliding scale — higher prices have lower percentage rates.
Who pays transfer costs?
The buyer pays all transfer costs, including transfer duty, conveyancing fees, bond registration fees, and Deeds Office fees.
Conveyancing fees are regulated by the Legal Practice Council. This calculator provides estimates — actual fees may vary.
How the conveyancing cost calculator works
Conveyancing costs are not a flat percentage. Attorneys work from a guideline tariff that rises in bands as the property value rises, and two attorneys are usually involved: the transferring attorney (acting for the seller but paid from the transaction) and the bond attorney (registering the buyer’s mortgage).
On a R1 500 000 purchase, a typical 2026 quote is about R31 000 plus VAT for the transfer and about R27 000 plus VAT for bond registration — roughly R66 700 including VAT, before transfer duty and disbursements.
Disbursements are separate and not negotiable: Deeds Office fees, rates clearance figures, and postage. On this purchase, add transfer duty of R8 700 because the property exceeds R1 210 000.
What changes the answer in South Africa
Conveyancing fees are recommended tariffs, not fixed prices, and are negotiable — but the work is not: only a conveyancer may register a transfer. Bond registration fees are often paid by the bank in a promotional offer, which is worth asking about. Budget the costs separately from the deposit; they cannot be financed in the bond.
Common questions about the conveyancing cost calculator
Who pays the conveyancing fees?
The buyer pays transfer costs and bond registration; the seller pays the estate agent's commission and the cancellation of an existing bond. The transferring attorney is instructed by the seller but paid by the buyer.
Can I use my own attorney?
For the bond, yes — the bank usually appoints from its panel but you may request your own. For the transfer, the seller chooses, and the buyer usually has no say.
Are these fees negotiable?
Yes, they are guideline tariffs. Ask for a written quote and compare; the difference is often a few thousand rand.