Johannesburg – The closure of Johannesburg’s Deeds Office with no clear reopening date has thrown property transactions into chaos.
Sellers have been left without access to their proceeds and estate agents have been waiting months for commission payments that would usually be processed within weeks.
Earlier this year, on 25 February, a notice confirmed that the Johannesburg Deeds Office would shut down indefinitely after the Department of Labour deemed the building’s elevators unsafe.
Employees had been refusing to climb the stairs to the 26th floor, effectively halting all property-related operations.
The disruption has created an immediate cash flow crisis for thousands of property sellers and estate agents.
What should be routine six-12 week registration processes now face further delays of at least two to three months.
Commenting this week on the resultant chaos, Jason Joffa from bridging finance company Lamna stated: “The closure impacts the entire sales process – everything is stuck and people need their money”.
Joffa added: “While the Deeds Office moves to temporary premises, sellers are stuck waiting for the proceeds they need.
“Lamna Financial offers a bridging lifeline to those facing months-long delays in property transactions.”
For estate agents, the situation is equally challenging. Commission payments are only processed once property transfers are registered, meaning agents who have successfully concluded sales face lengthy delays before receiving payment.
Joffa said Lamna, which provides bridging finance for property transactions, helps both sellers and agents navigate the crisis.
“For estate agents caught in the registration backlog, Lamna offers advances of up to 70% of commission,”‘ explained Joffa.
He said the process is designed for speed – agents can approach Lamna directly or through their conveyancing attorney, who signs an undertaking, and then receive payment within 24 hours.
“Estate agents have ongoing business costs and can’t afford to wait months for commission on completed sales,” Joffa explains.
“Our bridge financing allows them to maintain cash flow while the administrative backlog clears.”
For property sellers, Lamna can advance up to 80% of sale proceeds, addressing various financial pressures that arise during the extended waiting period.
These include securing deposits for onward property purchases, covering emigration costs, or meeting other expenses.
Property bridging finance can help to speed up the sales process, or when homeowners’ association levies haven’t been settled, or municipal rates clearances are outstanding, which must be resolved before properties can be lodged at the Deeds Office.
“Property developers are particularly affected,” notes Joffa.
“They have construction costs on new units that can’t wait for the administrative process to catch up.”
Sellers can access Lamna’s services directly or through their transferring attorneys.
“This is a cash-intensive business that requires access to substantial funding,” Joffa explains.
“Lamna’s growth comes from having the capital base to meet demand when administrative delays create urgent cash flow needs and the ability to move fast.”
While the Deeds Office establishes operations in temporary premises, Lamna expects demand for bridging finance to remain elevated as the backlog of delayed registrations is processed through the system.
“We can’t control when the Deeds Office reopens, but we can ensure that sellers and agents don’t have to put their lives and businesses on hold while they wait,” Joffa said.
