How to Get the Title Deed After You Finish Paying Off Your Home in South Africa

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✅ How to Get the Title Deed After You Finish Paying Off Your Home in South Africa

When you’ve paid off your home loan, the bank no longer has a financial interest in your property — but they still hold the original title deed and cancelled bond documents until the final legal steps are done.
Here’s the full process explained simply:

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1️⃣ The Bank Issues a Bond Cancellation Instruction

Once your home loan is fully paid:

• The bank creates a bond cancellation instruction.
• They appoint a bond cancellation attorney from their panel.
• This attorney will prepare the cancellation documents for the Deeds Office.

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2️⃣ You Don’t “Collect” the Title Deed Immediately

A common misconception:
➡️ You do NOT get the title deed in your hand the moment you finish paying.

The title deed must first go through Deeds Office processing.

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3️⃣ Bond Cancellation Is Lodged at the Deeds Office

The cancellation attorney lodges:

• Your original title deed (which the bank held as security)
• The bond cancellation documents

This process typically takes 7–14 working days but can be longer depending on the Deeds Office backlog.

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4️⃣ After Registration, The Deed Is Released

Once the Deeds Office registers the cancellation:

🔹 If NO new bond is being registered:

• The bank releases the original title deed back to you.
• Sometimes they send it via courier, or
• They notify you to collect from the attorney's office.

🔹 If you ARE registering a new bond (for another property):

• The title deed goes directly to the new bank’s attorneys.

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5️⃣ You Should Store the Original Title Deed Safely

Once you receive it:

• Keep it in a fireproof safe or
• Store it with your attorney
• You can also ask for a certified copy for general use

Note: With the introduction of the Electronic Deeds Registration Act, some deeds will become digital in future — but currently, original paper title deeds still matter.

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📝 If You Lost the Title Deed

You can still get a certified replacement by applying for a VA copy (a verified copy) at the Deeds Office via a conveyancing attorney.
This takes 2–6 weeks depending on workload.

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🏡 LAKE Properties Pro-Tip

Always follow up with your bank 30–60 days after your last payment to ensure the bond cancellation has been processed.
Delays happen often — and it can become a major problem when you want to sell your property, because a missing title deed can delay a sale by months.

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Lake Properties

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info@lakeproperties.co.za 

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