Blogs
What's New Trending
Bond registration costs explained
When a bank lends you money to buy a home, the bond has to be registered at the Deeds Office, and you pay for that. The bill is made up of the bond attorney’s fee, the Deeds Office fee, VAT on the attorney’s fee and sometimes a bank fee. The total depends on the size of your bond and the firm you use.
What a bond registration involves
A bond is a loan secured against your property. If you stop paying, the bank can sell the home to recover its money. Registering the bond at the Deeds Office is what gives the bank that security. Until it is registered, the bank usually does not pay out.
A bond attorney does the work. They prepare the documents, get your signature, deal with the bank, lodge the bond at the Deeds Office and pay out the loan when the bond is registered. They usually work alongside the transfer attorney, who registers the property in your name. The two registrations are lodged together and happen on the same day.
The parts of the bill
- Attorney’s fee. Fees are not fixed by law. They vary between firms and usually rise with the size of the bond. Ask for a written quote.
- VAT. VAT at 15% is added to the attorney’s fee.
- Deeds Office fee. This is set by a gazetted schedule, in force from 27 March 2026. It rises in steps with the amount of the bond. For example, registering a bond of R1 million to R2 million costs R1 738, plus a R52 lodgement fee.
- Other charges. The attorney’s account may include small items such as postage, copies or electronic charges. Ask for these to be listed.
- Bank fees. Some banks charge an initiation fee when they grant the loan. This is separate from the attorney’s account, so ask your bank what it charges.
Transfer duty is a different cost. It is paid by the buyer to SARS on the purchase, not on the bond. See transfer duty explained.
Who chooses the attorney
In practice the bank usually appoints the bond attorney, often from a panel of firms it works with, or it may let you propose one. Ask which applies at your bank. Even if you do not choose, the fee still lands on you, so ask the bank or the attorney what it will be before you accept the loan.
You can compare quotes where you have the choice. Check that each quote covers the same things: attorney’s fee, VAT, the Deeds Office fee and any extras. A low fee can hide costs listed elsewhere.
When you pay
Registration costs are normally paid before the bond is lodged. The attorney asks for the money in the weeks before registration, often at the same time as the transfer costs. Some buyers ask the bank to lend a little extra to cover costs. Banks decide this case by case, so ask when you apply and do not count on it.
If you pay the bond attorney from your own savings, keep the proof of payment. Keep the final statement too, so you can compare it with the quote.
If you are switching banks
Registering a new bond over a home you already own costs about the same as any other bond registration, plus the cost of cancelling the old one. See switching your bond to another bank for those extras.
What to do next
- Ask your bank who the bond attorney will be and whether you can choose.
- Ask for a written quote listing the attorney’s fee, VAT, Deeds Office fee and any other charges.
- Ask your bank about any initiation fee.
- Add the total to your budget, next to transfer duty and the transfer attorney’s fee.
The transfer costs calculator helps you estimate the total. To see what your instalment will be, use the bond repayment calculator. For the wider picture, read the full cost of buying a home.
This article is general information for South African readers, not legal, financial or tax advice. Rules and rates change, so check your own situation with an attorney, your bank or a tax practitioner. Our property calculators can help you work out the numbers.