How to Check the Bond Registered on a Property

Whether a property has a bond registered over it — and who holds it — is part of the public deeds record. Buyers check it before making an offer; owners check it to confirm a cancellation went through. You do not need to ask the bank or the seller: you can pull it from the registry yourself. Here is how on DeedsCheck.

What a bond check tells you

A property's deeds record shows the registered bond position:

• whether a bond is registered at all;
• the bond holder (the bank or lender);
• the amount secured by the bond; and
• the registration date.

Note that the registered amount is the maximum the bond secures, not the outstanding balance — banks often register for more than the loan, so a large registered bond does not mean a large debt.

How to check it

Search the property by address, owner name or erf number, then order a Property Search Report (R225). Alongside the registered owner and transfer history, the report sets out the bond position — holder, amount and date — drawn straight from the deeds registry.

When you would check a bond

• Before buying — to see what is secured over the property and confirm there are no surprises a clean cancellation will not clear.
• After settling — to confirm a bond you have paid off has actually been cancelled at the Deeds Office, not just zeroed at the bank.
• Doing due diligence — on an investment, a deceased estate, or a property in a dispute.

Why check it on DeedsCheck

• Instant — the report is delivered on payment, not in days;
• No login or registration — search, pay, download;
• Plain English — the bond holder and amount spelled out, not buried in registry codes;
• One price, all fees included — paid securely by card or EFT.

Check a property now

Search the property and order a Property Search Report to see its bond position, owner and transfer history in one place.

Frequently asked questions

Can I find out if a property has a bond?

Yes. Bond information is part of the public deeds record. A Property Search Report shows whether a bond is registered, who holds it and the amount secured.

Will it show how much the owner still owes?

No. The record shows the amount the bond secures — often more than the loan — not the current outstanding balance, which only the lender holds.

How much does it cost to check a bond?

Searching is free; the Property Search Report that includes the bond position, owner and transfer history is R225, with all registry fees included.

I have paid off my home — how do I confirm the bond is gone?

Order a report on your own property. If the bond has been cancelled at the Deeds Office it will no longer appear; if it still shows, the cancellation has not been registered yet.