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Enhancing conveyancing practice: Chief Registrar releases four CRCs

Intended to clarify and streamline conveyancing practice, the Chief Registrar recently issued a series of Chief Registrar’s Circulars (‘CRCs’) – the first of 2026 – following a meeting with elected officials.

Following notable amendments to the Regulations under the Deeds Registries Act, which took effect on 1st March 2026, Chief Registrar’s Circular 1 of 2026 (‘CRC 1’) briefly outlines the nature and impact of the revised regulatory provisions on Deeds Office practice. Specifically, CRC 1 discusses the description of undivided shares, notifying the Surveyor-General of servitudes that are registered without diagrams, and the inspection of Deeds Office records.

Chief Registrar’s Circular 2 of 2026 (‘CRC 2’) focuses on the prohibition of ceding personal servitudes pursuant to section 66 of the Deeds Registries Act. Citing a contradiction between a long-standing Registrar’s Conference Resolution (‘RCR’) and an older court case, CRC 2 suspends RCR 15 of 2003 with immediate effect.

Similarly, Chief Registrar’s Circular 3 of 2026 (‘CRC 3’) suspends RCR 4 of 2025, which deals with how to calculate registration fees when a lease does not state the total consideration. This move may potentially require an amendment to item 1(d) to provide for the calculation of the registration fee on the term of the lease agreement as opposed to its consideration. For now, however, a separate notarial certificate confirming the total lease consideration may be accepted for fee calculation purposes, pending referral to the Deeds Registries Regulation Board.

Finally, Chief Registrar’s Circular 4 of 2026 (‘CRC 4’) provides clarity on the procedural requirements concerning the endorsement of deeds to record the transfer of the registration of immovable assets from Eskom to the NTCSA, pursuant to section 116 of the Companies Act.

For further information or trusted legal guidance, contact our team of property law and conveyancing attorneys.

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