Property transfer registration

Signs a transfer is stalling on the conveyancer's side — what to ask

Spot conveyancer delays early: silent communication, missing documents, and unaddressed problems are key red flags. Learn what to ask to keep your transfer on track.

You've handed over your documents to the conveyancer three weeks ago. Since then, emails have slowed to a trickle, phone calls go unreturned, and you're checking the property transfer status online every morning. A transfer can take two to three months legitimately, but silence and unexplained delays are different beasts entirely. Knowing what stalls look like — and what to ask when they appear — protects your timeline and your money.

When the conveyancer goes silent

The first red flag is communication that drops off. Conveyancers handle many files in parallel, but a competent one responds to basic queries within two working days. If you've sent three messages and heard nothing, or if you get one-word replies with no substance, something is wrong. The conveyancer may be disorganised, understaffed, or deliberately deprioritising your file because another client is pushing harder or paying a rush fee.

Ask directly: "Can you give me a written update on where my file sits right now, and what's waiting on me versus what's waiting on you?" Request specific dates for each next step — not "soon" or "next week", but "we'll receive the title deed from the municipality by 15 April, then I'll spend two days reviewing it and send you comments by 18 April." If they resist committing to dates, their backlog is probably the issue. A conveyancer drowning in work may still be honest about it; one who dodges the question is buying time.

The municipal or Deeds Office bottleneck that looks like the conveyancer's fault

Some delays genuinely live outside the conveyancer's hands. The Deeds Office, municipalities, and banks can drag out their portions. But your conveyancer is accountable for *chasing* those parties, not just waiting. If they tell you "we're waiting on the Deeds Office", ask: "When did you lodge that application, and did you call them last week to confirm they received it?" A diligent conveyancer follows up every two weeks on documents in government hands and has relationships with the people processing them.

Similarly, if your lender is slow, the conveyancer should be in contact with the lender's legal team, not leaving you to chase it. Ask them to send you a copy of their last communication with each third party (Deeds Office, municipality, bank, bond attorney) so you can see the trail. If the trail goes cold for more than three weeks, that's negligence.

Missing or incomplete documents that derail everything

A transfer stalls silently when the conveyancer discovers, deep into the process, that a document is missing or wrong. They may not tell you immediately because they're hoping to retrieve it quietly. Meanwhile, your timeline is shrinking and your bond approval is sitting unused. The best protection is an early handover check.

Within one week of giving your conveyancer your papers, call and ask: "Have you reviewed all the documents I sent? Is anything missing or do you need anything clarified before we proceed?" Don't accept vague reassurance. If they say yes, ask them to list what they have and what they still need. If they're asking for something they should have asked for upfront — like a power of attorney, or an identity document, or a letter from your employer — it hints they didn't brief you properly at the start.

When you're not being told about problems early

Transfers encounter snags: boundary disputes, title defects, bond redemption delays, or issues with the seller's side of things. A professional conveyancer flags these *as soon as they surface*, explains the impact on timeline and cost, and outlines options. One who goes quiet when a problem emerges is hoping it will resolve itself — or hoping you won't notice.

If you sense evasion, shift to a direct question: "Are there any issues with this transfer that we haven't discussed yet?" If the answer is no, follow up: "When will we have confirmation from the Deeds Office that there are no title encumbrances?" Push for concrete facts, not reassurance.

The principle is simple: conveyancing is slow by design, but it should never be opaque. A conveyancer worth their fee keeps you informed at every stage. If yours isn't doing that within your first month, raise it now, not when the transfer is supposed to close. Finding a communicative, organised conveyancer on Strove — one who's reviewed and verified — saves you anxiety and usually accelerates the whole process.

Common questions

How long should I wait before I worry that my conveyancer is taking too long?: A straightforward transfer typically takes 8–12 weeks, longer if complications arise. What matters is communication, not pace alone. If your conveyancer replies to emails within two working days and gives you written progress updates every two weeks, they're moving it properly. If you hear nothing for three weeks, or if they can't tell you what's happening, that's a problem regardless of calendar time.
What should I do if my conveyancer won't give me a timeline for each step?: Ask them in writing to break down the transfer into phases and commit to dates for each — lodging documents, receiving confirmation from the Deeds Office, sending you the draft deed for review, and so on. If they refuse or give only vague estimates, it's a sign they're disorganised or under-resourced. Consider finding a new conveyancer who can, even partway through, though discuss the implications first.
Who's responsible if the Deeds Office is slow — me or the conveyancer?: The Deeds Office's slowness is not the conveyancer's fault, but the conveyancer is responsible for *chasing* the Deeds Office proactively and reporting to you on progress. Ask your conveyancer when they last contacted the Deeds Office and ask for evidence — an email or call log. A conveyancer worth their fee doesn't just sit and wait.
Should I ask for refund or compensation if delays drag on?: Delays due to the Deeds Office or other third parties are often beyond a conveyancer's control, so contractual grounds for refund are narrow. However, delays caused by the conveyancer's negligence or poor communication may be actionable. Review your contract with them and, if you believe they've failed, put your complaint in writing. If unresolved, you can escalate to the Law Society of South Africa, though consult with another lawyer on the strength of your claim first.

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More on Property transfer registration

When the conveyancer goes silent

The municipal or Deeds Office bottleneck that looks like the conveyancer's fault

Missing or incomplete documents that derail everything

When you're not being told about problems early

Common questions

How long should I wait before I worry that my conveyancer is taking too long?

A straightforward transfer typically takes 8–12 weeks, longer if complications arise. What matters is communication, not pace alone. If your conveyancer replies to emails within two working days and gives you written progress updates every two weeks, they're moving it properly. If you hear nothing for three weeks, or if they can't tell you what's happening, that's a problem regardless of calendar time.

What should I do if my conveyancer won't give me a timeline for each step?

Ask them in writing to break down the transfer into phases and commit to dates for each — lodging documents, receiving confirmation from the Deeds Office, sending you the draft deed for review, and so on. If they refuse or give only vague estimates, it's a sign they're disorganised or under-resourced. Consider finding a new conveyancer who can, even partway through, though discuss the implications first.

Who's responsible if the Deeds Office is slow — me or the conveyancer?

The Deeds Office's slowness is not the conveyancer's fault, but the conveyancer is responsible for *chasing* the Deeds Office proactively and reporting to you on progress. Ask your conveyancer when they last contacted the Deeds Office and ask for evidence — an email or call log. A conveyancer worth their fee doesn't just sit and wait.

Should I ask for refund or compensation if delays drag on?

Delays due to the Deeds Office or other third parties are often beyond a conveyancer's control, so contractual grounds for refund are narrow. However, delays caused by the conveyancer's negligence or poor communication may be actionable. Review your contract with them and, if you believe they've failed, put your complaint in writing. If unresolved, you can escalate to the Law Society of South Africa, though consult with another lawyer on the strength of your claim first.