Sectional Title Transfer Attorneys
Careful conveyancing for units, schemes and shared property.
Sectional-title transfers involve the registered unit, an undivided share in common property, and scheme-specific legal and financial requirements. We coordinate the transfer, clearances and any linked bond processes where appointed.
Overview
What Is Transferred in a Sectional Title Sale?
Ownership generally relates to a defined section together with an undivided share in common property, subject to the scheme's legal framework. Parking, storage and garden areas may be structured in different ways and always need document-specific verification.
We distinguish the registered section, the participation quota and common-property interest, registered or rule-based exclusive-use rights, body corporate membership and the scheme's rules and management framework. A parking bay or garden is never assumed part of the title simply because the seller currently uses it.
This page is general information and does not review your specific title deed or scheme records.
Who Is Involved
The Parties in a Sectional Title Transfer
One firm does not always perform every role, and requirements depend on the scheme and transaction.
Our Process
How a Sectional Title Transfer May Progress
Requirements and order vary by scheme and transaction.
Instruction & Agreement
We review parties, the unit, price, conditions, exclusive-use areas and scheme-related provisions.
Identity & Property Information
FICA, marital/entity, tax, title, bond and scheme information is collected securely.
Levy & Municipal Clearance
Current figures and certificates are obtained from the relevant bodies.
Transfer & Bond Documents
Documents are prepared and signed, and any existing or new bond is coordinated.
Lodgement & Examination
Linked matters are lodged at the relevant deeds registry and examined.
Registration & Accounting
Registration is confirmed and settlement and proceeds are addressed per mandate.
Sectional Title Requirements
Levy Clearance and Special Levies
Levy Clearance
Levy Clearance Is a Core Transfer Requirement
A body corporate or managing agent may need to confirm levy-related requirements before transfer can proceed. Figures may include ordinary levies, special levies, utilities, interest or legal charges. A seller's latest levy statement is not treated as final clearance figures, and we verify payment instructions independently.
Special Levies & Exclusive-Use Areas
Special Levies Need Careful Contractual Treatment
Responsibility for a special levy can depend on when it was validly raised, how it is payable, the sale agreement and applicable law — we do not apply a universal rule assigning it to buyer or seller. Likewise, exclusive-use areas such as parking, storage or gardens may be registered, rule-based, or not part of the title at all, and their transfer depends on the sectional plan, title and scheme records.
Buyer Due Diligence
What Buyers Should Verify Before Signing
- The unit, parking, storage or garden rights and physical layout.
- Current scheme rules and intended-use restrictions.
- Levy schedule, arrears position and known special levies.
- Approved budgets, reserve fund and financial statements.
- Alterations, extensions and approval records against the sectional plan.
- Finance, cost assumptions and professional inspections where needed.
Our transfer mandate does not automatically include a full legal, financial, engineering or investment due-diligence review — ask us where deeper review is needed.
Bonds & Finance
Coordinating Transfer with Bond Registration and Cancellation
Buyer finance and an existing seller bond often need to be linked with transfer, and lender requirements can include valuation, insurance or scheme information. We do not control lender approval or a bank-appointed attorney's process, but we coordinate closely where we are instructed.
Timing
What Can Delay a Sectional Title Transfer?
Incomplete identity or authority documents, levy figures or disputed arrears, exclusive-use discrepancies, unapproved alterations, municipal clearance processes, buyer finance, existing bond cancellation, linked transactions and registry queries can all affect timing. We do not guarantee a transfer period or attribute delay to the body corporate without verified facts.
Costs
Sectional Title Transfer
Costs and Adjustments
A transaction may involve transfer fees, transfer duty where applicable, deeds charges, bond costs, levy or rates clearances, certificates and apportionments. Estimates are not quotations, scheme-specific amounts may not appear in a generic calculator, and tariffs, taxes and levies can change.
Transaction Security
Protect Identity and Payment Information
- Independently verify banking-detail changes by calling a known official number.
- Check sender domains and unexpected urgency.
- Use secure routes for identity and financial documents.
- Don't trust unverified levy or attorney payment instructions.
- Report suspicious communications to us immediately.
Why Sarah Alison Attorneys
Sectional Title Conveyancing
with Scheme-Level Attention
Accurate Unit & Rights Review
Real title, plan and exclusive-use verification practices.
Body Corporate Coordination
Genuine clearance and information workflows.
Linked Bond Coordination
Direct communication with bond attorneys where appointed.
Clear Milestone Communication
Accurate, timely updates as the transfer progresses.
Local Support
Sectional Title Transfer Support in
KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng
FAQ
Sectional Title Transfer Questions
What exactly do I own in a sectional title scheme?
Generally a defined section together with an undivided share in common property — always verify against your specific title and plan.
Does my parking bay or garden transfer with the unit?
It depends on whether the right is registered, rule-based, or neither — this must be checked against official records.
What is levy clearance?
A body-corporate confirmation, generally required before transfer can proceed.
Who pays a special levy when a unit is sold?
This depends on timing, resolutions, the sale agreement and applicable law, and needs matter-specific review.
Which scheme documents should a buyer review?
Levy records, budgets, rules, minutes and known disputes are common categories, though this is not exhaustive.
Can unapproved alterations delay transfer?
They can, depending on legal, lender and plan implications — there is no universal answer.
How long does a sectional title transfer take?
Timing depends on many dependencies, so we avoid a guaranteed period.
How much does the transfer cost?
Costs include generic transfer components and scheme-specific items — a written quote will confirm your costs.
How do linked bonds affect the transfer?
Registration or cancellation of a bond is coordinated alongside the transfer where relevant.
Does an enquiry mean the firm is appointed?
No. Formal engagement and verification are required first.
Get in Touch
Discuss Your Sectional Title Transfer
Tell us the property/scheme location, unit type, your role, exclusive-use areas and finance status. We must confirm appointment, conflicts, scope, documents and fee assumptions before acting.