In real estate, an erf is a legal term used to describe a piece of land registered in a deeds registry as an erf, lot, plot, or stand.
Check carefully that the property description does not include “a portion of” or “a portion of or a portion of,” as this will result in an amendment to the bond if it has been recorded incorrectly.
Every property has an erf description, which you will find on the title deeds as well as the local authority rates account. Properties are classified as freehold erf, sectional title, lot, plot, or farm.
It is important to correctly identify which piece of property the seller is selling and ensure that the description is accurate. The seller may live in a different property from the one they are selling, and you need to identify the property and the seller respectively. Every property, even sectional title properties, is situated on a piece of land that has been zoned by the local authority. Through the zoning and subdivision of land, the local authority provides a legal description for that piece of land for future identification. This is then registered in the deeds registry.
In the mandate, you will see the word “erf” and a space for the erf and portion numbers, situated in the Township (this is the suburb in which the property is located), followed by the actual street address. This will complete your property identification.