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7. What is the procedure for transfer of ownership?
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The registration of a property transaction is handled by a specially qualified legal practitioner known as a conveyancer. It is customary for the seller to appoint the conveyancer to attend to the registration of transfer of a property sold, whilst the costs attendant on same are for the account of the purchaser, unless contractually agreed to otherwise.
The conveyancer prepares the requisite transfer documentation that, after signature by the purchaser and the seller, is lodged in a regionally located Deeds Registry, together with the cancellation of any existing mortgage bonds and new mortgage bonds to be registered. The deeds are subject to an intense examination process whereafter they are made available for registration.
On date of registration of transfer all existing mortgage bonds registered over the property are cancelled simultaneously with the registration of any new mortgage bonds by the purchaser in favour of the bank granting financial assistance. The purchaser is recorded as the new owner of the property and the purchase price is paid to the seller.
The above procedure does not apply in an instance where the shares/members interest and loans are acquired in a property-owning company/Close Corporation where no change in ownership is recorded.
It is important to note that upon transfer to the new owner, any liabilities in respect of the property incurred by the previous owner, remain with the previous owner and do not necessarily pass to the new owner, unless otherwise agreed to. |