Subdivision

What it is

Subdivision creates new land units from an existing property. Municipal approval is followed by survey, approval of diagrams by the Surveyor-General and registration in the Deeds Office. Town-planning work covers the municipal approval and coordination; survey and conveyancing are done by qualified land surveyors and conveyancers.

When you may need it

• You want to sell part of a large residential stand
• You are creating separate title for an additional dwelling
• A development requires new erven to be created

What our work includes

• Feasibility review against minimum erf sizes, zoning and services
• Subdivision layout and application
• Liaison with the land surveyor and engineers on services
• Follow-through on conditions needed before transfer

The broad process

1. 1.Feasibility and layout
2. 2.Municipal application and approval
3. 3.Survey and Surveyor-General diagram approval
4. 4.Compliance with conditions, including services and contributions
5. 5.Registration of new portions by a conveyancer

Documents commonly required

• Copy of the title deed (later stage, not at enquiry)
• Surveyor-General diagram or general plan
• Zoning certificate or current land-use information
• Power of attorney and owner consent where applicable

You don’t need these to make an initial enquiry.

What affects cost and duration

• Professional planning fees for preparation and motivation
• Municipal application fees set by the relevant municipality
• Advertising and notice costs where public participation is required
• Specialist reports (for example traffic, engineering services or environmental)
• Land surveyor and conveyancer fees (separate professionals)
• Services connections and development contributions

We provide a project-specific quotation that separates professional fees from municipal charges, advertising and specialist costs. Timeframes vary with scope, completeness, objections, specialist work and municipal processing.

Limitations

Municipal approval alone does not create a new title. Registration depends on survey, conditions and conveyancing.

Questions