How to Get a Certificate of Compliance in South Africa

A step-by-step guide to getting your Certificates of Compliance (CoCs) for a property transfer — which certificates you need, who can legally issue them, how the inspection works, what it costs and how long it takes.

In short: hire a registered inspector for each certificate your property needs, book the inspection, fix any defects, and the inspector issues the certificate once the installation passes. The seller arranges and pays for this before transfer registers.

The 6 Steps to Getting a CoC

1. Work out which certificates your property needs. Every property transfer in South Africa needs an electrical CoC; in Cape Town a plumbing (water) CoC is also compulsory. Add a gas CoC if there is a fixed gas installation, an electric-fence CoC if a fence is energised, a solar/SSEG CoC for grid-tied PV, and a beetle certificate where a bank requires one.
2. Hire a registered inspector for each certificate. A certificate is only valid if issued by a properly registered professional — a Department of Employment and Labour-registered electrician, a City of Cape Town-registered plumber, a SAQCC Gas installer, an EFSI fence inspector, or a SAPCA entomologist. Confirm registration before any work starts.
3. Book the inspection early. Book as soon as the property is listed or the Offer to Purchase is signed, so any repairs do not delay registration. One provider issuing several certificates in a single visit is faster and cheaper.
4. Fix any defects and re-inspect. If an installation fails, the inspector issues a written defect report. The seller arranges repairs and a re-inspection; minor faults are often fixed on the same visit.
5. Receive the certificate and hand it to your conveyancer. Once the installation passes, the certificate is issued (usually emailed within 24 hours) and given to the transferring attorney.
6. Transfer registers at the Deeds Office. With valid certificates on file, the conveyancer lodges the transfer and it registers at the Deeds Office.

Which Certificate, and Who Issues It

Each certificate is issued by a different registered professional. Pick the one you need for the details, cost and validity:

• Electrical CoC — DoEL-registered electrician, required on every transfer.
• Plumbing (water) CoC — City of Cape Town-registered plumber, required at every Cape Town transfer.
• Gas CoC — SAQCC Gas installer, for fixed LPG installations.
• Solar / SSEG CoC — for grid-tied solar PV, plus City SSEG registration.
• Electric Fence CoC — EFSI-registered installer, where a fence is energised.
• Beetle certificate — SAPCA entomologist, often required by banks.

What It Costs

Individual certificates start from about R550 (R850 for electrical, from R1,500 for solar), with bundle savings of up to 22%. See the full CoC price list or get an instant estimate from the CoC cost calculator.

If the Inspection Fails

A failed inspection is not the end — the inspector issues a defect report, the seller arranges repairs, and a re-inspection follows. See what happens if a property fails a CoC inspection, and use our complete buyer & seller CoC guide to keep the transfer on track.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Your CoC Sorted for Transfer

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