2026-05-21
How Bond Registration Fees Are Calculated in South Africa
When you take out a home loan, your bank registers a mortgage bond over the property as security. This registration is handled by a conveyancing attorney appointed by the bank — and it comes with a fee set by the Law Society of South Africa.
Understanding what this fee is, how it's calculated, and how it differs from other upfront costs saves you from surprises when you receive the conveyancer's statement of account.
What is a bond registration fee?
The bond registration fee (also called the bond attorney fee or bond conveyancer fee) is paid to the attorney who registers the mortgage bond in the Deeds Office on behalf of your bank. It is:
- Charged on the bond amount, not the purchase price
- Regulated by the Law Society of SA — all attorneys charge the same rate
- Not negotiable — it is a statutory tariff
- Paid once at transfer, before registration
The Law Society tariff table
The fee is a flat amount per bracket — not a percentage. Once your bond amount falls within a bracket, you pay that bracket's flat fee regardless of where in the bracket you fall.
| Bond amount | Bond registration fee (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Up to R100 000 | R1 232 |
| R100 001 – R200 000 | R1 900 |
| R200 001 – R300 000 | R2 567 |
| R300 001 – R600 000 | R3 786 |
| R600 001 – R800 000 | R4 830 |
| R800 001 – R1 000 000 | R5 789 |
| R1 000 001 – R1 500 000 | R7 091 |
| R1 500 001 – R2 000 000 | R8 854 |
| R2 000 001 – R2 500 000 | R10 618 |
| Above R2 500 000 | R12 381 |
The tariff above is for bond registration only. There is a separate, identical tariff for the transfer attorney fee (see below). You pay both.
Worked examples
Bond amount: R800,000 Falls in the R600,001–R800,000 bracket. Bond registration fee: R4,830
Bond amount: R1,350,000 Falls in the R1,000,001–R1,500,000 bracket. Bond registration fee: R7,091
Bond amount: R1,800,000 Falls in the R1,500,001–R2,000,000 bracket. Bond registration fee: R8,854
Note: a R1,499,999 bond and a R1,000,001 bond both pay R7,091 — it's a flat fee per bracket, not a pro-rated percentage.
What's the difference between bond registration and transfer fees?
These are two separate attorneys charging two separate fees:
| Fee | Who appoints the attorney | What they register | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bond registration fee | Your bank (lender) | The mortgage bond (bank's security) | Bond amount |
| Transfer fee | Seller's bank or seller | Transfer of ownership to your name | Purchase price |
Both use the same tariff scale. If your bond amount equals your purchase price (no deposit), both fees are calculated on the same number. If you put down a deposit, the bond registration fee is lower because it's calculated on the smaller bond amount.
What about VAT?
Conveyancing fees are subject to VAT at 15%. The tariff figures in the table above include VAT (the attorneys' fees are quoted inclusive of VAT — confirm with your specific attorney, as practice varies).
Other charges on the statement of account
Your bond registration attorney's invoice will typically include:
- Bond registration fee — the regulated tariff
- Deeds Office levy — a small government charge for lodging (R250–R500)
- FICA compliance fee — due diligence and identity verification (R500–R1,500)
- Post, petties, and disbursements — copying, courier, miscellaneous (R500–R1,000)
- Electronic document handling fee (Lexis/WinDeed searches)
Total extras are typically R2,000–R4,000 on top of the regulated fee.
Can you reduce this cost?
The regulated tariff is fixed. You cannot negotiate it. However:
- A larger deposit reduces your bond amount, pushing you into a lower bracket
- Using a bond originator can secure a better interest rate, which — while not reducing the registration fee — reduces your total cost of ownership significantly more than any fee difference
See all your upfront costs in one place
The Bond Cost Calculator shows your transfer duty, bond registration fee, transfer fee, and initiation fee — all calculated from your purchase price and bond amount.
Open Bond Cost Calculator →