CIPC Company Reinstatement: How to Get the Required Deeds Office Property Searches

Has your company been deregistered by CIPC for failing to file annual returns? Don't panic – you can apply to have your company reinstated. One of the requirements for reinstatement is proving whether your company owns property in South Africa. Here's what you need to know.

Why Was Your Company Deregistered?

The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) automatically deregisters companies that fail to file annual returns for two or more consecutive years. When a company is deregistered:

• It loses its legal status and cannot trade
• It cannot enter into contracts or sue (or be sued)
• Bank accounts may be frozen
• Any property owned by the company technically becomes "bona vacantia" (ownerless property)

The Reinstatement Process

To reinstate a deregistered company, you need to apply to CIPC and provide various documents. The requirements include:

1. A completed reinstatement application form (CoR40.5)
2. Outstanding annual returns for all missed years
3. Payment of all outstanding fees and penalties
4. A letter explaining why the returns weren't filed
5. Proof of property ownership or non-ownership from the Deeds Office

Why Does CIPC Need Property Information?

When a company is deregistered, any immovable property it owns may be affected. CIPC needs to know whether your company owns property in South Africa so they can assess the implications of reinstatement.

You'll need to provide a search from all 11 Deeds Offices in South Africa to confirm either:

• The company owns property (and details of that property), OR
• The company does not own any property in South Africa

A "negative search" confirming no property is found is just as important as a positive result – CIPC needs this documentation either way.

Getting Your Deeds Office Searches

To satisfy CIPC requirements, you need comprehensive searches across all 11 Deeds Offices:

• Pretoria Deeds Office
• Johannesburg Deeds Office
• Cape Town Deeds Office
• Pietermaritzburg Deeds Office
• Bloemfontein Deeds Office
• Kimberley Deeds Office
• King William's Town Deeds Office
• Vryburg Deeds Office
• Umtata Deeds Office
• Mpumalanga Deeds Office
• Limpopo Deeds Office

You can visit each Deeds Office individually, or use an online service that provides a consolidated search across all offices.

What Information Do You Need to Provide?

To conduct the property search, you'll need:

• The company's registered name
• The company's registration number

The search will return any properties registered in the company's name, including the property descriptions, title deed references, and current status.

Tips for a Smooth Reinstatement

• Act quickly – The longer your company remains deregistered, the more complicated reinstatement becomes
• Get all outstanding returns ready – You'll need to file every missed annual return
• Budget for fees – There are penalties for late filing plus the reinstatement fee
• Keep proof of your searches – CIPC may request the original Deeds Office documentation

Order Your CIPC Property Searches

Need Deeds Office searches for your company reinstatement?

Request CIPC Reinstatement Search

This covers all 11 Deeds Offices in South Africa and provides the documentation you need for your application.

We'll search each Deeds Office for any property registered in your company's name and provide you with a comprehensive report suitable for submission to CIPC.