Documents required to sell a house in South Africa

The documents you will require to sell your house in South Africa depend on several factors. There are a few documents that every seller will require, no matter their marital status or what type of property they own.

But if you live in an apartment or townhouse, you will require a different set of information from homeowners who live in freestanding homes.

The list is luckily not very long, but some of the paperwork required to sell your South African property might not be that easy to find. That's why it's useful to start putting together these documents before you approach an estate agent or put your house on the market.

Once you appoint a realtor, they will guide you through other more technical aspects of the sales process. But your estate agent will require specific documentation from you before they can start, so now is a great time to work on gathering the paperwork.

Without certain documents, such as proof of your identity, there is almost no way for an agent to continue with the sale of your property. That's why it makes sense to start early and tick these items off your To Do list.

Make things easy by downloading our checklist of documents you'll need to sell your house in South Africa.

Download the checklist of documents required to sell a house:

Here are the documents you require to sell your house in South Africa

Paperwork that every homeowner needs to sell a house

1. ID of sellers (or passports, if applicable)

You and every co-owner of the property need to show your South African identity document or a certified copy of our ID.

*If you are a citizen from another country who owns property in South Africa, you'll need to show your passport.

2. Proof of address

Homeowners also need to show proof of residence to sell their property. A municipal statement or account from the municipality is best, although any other document from a service provider that shows both your name and your address will do.

This document should not be older than three months.

3. Personal income tax number

If you are eligible to pay tax, you'll have a personal income tax number. Your estate agent will need that number, so jot it down now. If you don't know where to find yours, just follow these instructions from the South African Revenue Service.

*If you don't have a tax number because you haven't been eligible to pay tax, then there is no need to get one.

4. Proof of banking details

Once your home is registered to the new owner, the profit from the sale will be paid to you. To do so, the attorneys involved in the sale will require your banking details.

You'll need to provide verified banking details via a document that has your bank's stamp on it.

*Request an electronically stamped document with your account details through your bank's online portal. You can also visit your bank's branch to request a stamped statement that shows these details.

If you are still paying a home loan or bond...

you'll need a bond or home loan account number

If you have a home loan, you need to give your home loan provider notice of cancellation. Your estate agent will work with you to send a 90 days written notice to your bank or financial institution to let them know that you plan to sell your property.

Both your estate agent and conveyancer will require your account number, so get this number from your loan statement or online banking platform.

*You can send your financial institution a notice of cancellation before you approach an estate agent and put your house on the market. There is no penalty for providing notice too far in advance, but you will be penalised for doing so too late. Contact your bond provider to find out how to provide this notice.

If your home is paid off...

you'll need the title deed

If your property was a cash purchase or if you paid your home loan in full, you will receive the original title deed to your house. Your estate agent, transfer and registration attorneys will need to see the original document, not a copy, so you must have this document on hand.

*If you lost your title deed or never received it, advise your estate agent right away and work with the conveyancing attorney during the sale to apply for a copy.

If it's a freestanding house or a home on land you own...

you'll need the latest approved property plans

Buyers will often ask to see approved building plans of your property before they buy. Without approved plans, buyers might not be willing to make an offer or it could lead to contractual complications during the sale.

*If you don't have the building plans for your property, now is the time to get them. If you live in the City of Cape Town, follow these steps to apply.

If you live in a complex, apartment or estate...

you'll need information from the body corporate

For a buyer to receive a home loan, the bank needs to verify the financial status of the body corporate. Many buyers also want to make sure the apartment or townhouse they're buying in is well-managed and will typically request documents to verify if that is the case.

You can speed things up by finding your recent levy statement.

If you are married...

you'll need copies of your marriage certificate and/or antenuptial contract

The good news is that you don't need an original copy of your marriage certificate to sell your home if you are married, but it can speed up the process to some extent. If you and your partner entered into an antenuptial agreement when you got married, you will need this to sell your house.

*If you lost your antenuptial contract, you can apply for a copy at the Deeds Office. If you didn't sign an agreement at the time of your marriage, you and your partner will both be required to sign all documentation related to the sale of your home.

If you want someone else to sell your home on your behalf

...you'll need FICA and special and/or general power of attorney documents

In some cases, you might not want to be involved in the sale of your property or not be able to participate in the sale. Sometimes homeowners appoint a family member, friend or representative to sell their properties on their behalf. This is becoming especially popular for homeowners who have emigrated.

If this is the case with you, then you will have to legally appoint the person of your choice to act on your behalf by submitting FICA documents and giving them special power of attorney to do so.

*It is recommended that you work with an attorney to generate the documents and complete the process required. If the process is not completed accurately, the sale of your home might be unnecessarily delayed during registration.

**If you plan to emigrate, it is recommended that you appoint a power of attorney before you leave South Africa.

The documents required to sell a house in South Africa depend on who you are and what you own. Just one piece of missing paperwork could delay the sale of your home, so gathering this documentation now is a wise decision.

When you're ready, reach out to an estate agent to start the process. Find out what NS Property Solutions can offer.

Not sure which estate agency to choose? Find out how to choose the right realtor for the job in our article What to look for in an estate agent