What’s still being confirmed
Anything marked † in Lakitsi is indicative: a pilot figure, or a legal point our partner attorneys and the regulators are still confirming before launch. This page lists them in plain words.
Indicative figures
| What | Current figure | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Listing plan prices | Basic E 149 · Plus E 349 · Premium E 699 · Rental Basic E 99 · Rental Plus E 199 · SNL Homestead E 99 · Commercial E 499 | Pilot prices for listing a property. We may change them before launch, and we always show the price before you pay. |
| Success fee | 1% of the price (min E 2,500, max E 15,000). Stands and plots: 1% with an E 1,500 minimum. SNL homesteads: flat E 1,500. | What a seller pays Lakitsi, only if the sale registers. The conveyancer deducts it from the proceeds on registration. Buyers never pay it. |
| Agency listings | 0.5% for subscribing agencies, 1% otherwise | On a home marketed by an estate agency, Lakitsi invoices the agency. Nothing is deducted from the owner’s proceeds for it. |
| Boosts | Bump to top (24 hours) E 49 · Featured in your town (7 days) E 99 · Homepage spotlight (7 days) E 199 · Renew (30 days) E 99 | Optional paid visibility. Each boost says exactly what it does before you pay. Prices may change before launch. |
| Deeds Registry search | E 250 | A partner conveyancer searches the Deeds Registry for a Basic listing. The final price depends on the partner firm’s quote. |
| Protected Deposit | E 149 | Optional add-on a tenant can choose when applying for a Rental Plus listing. A partner attorney holds the deposit in its trust account. We are confirming with the Law Society that Lakitsi may charge this fee. |
| Subscriptions | Solo Agent E 499/month · Agency E 1,499/month · Enterprise E 3,499/month · Conveyancer firm E 999/month | Monthly plans for agencies and conveyancing firms. Firms are free during the pilot. |
| Professional lead fee | E 200 | What valuers, inspectors and photographers pay per accepted job after the pilot. |
| Conveyancing fees (estimate) | 1.5–2.5% of the price, min E 6,000 | A rough estimate of the attorney’s tariff fee, paid by the buyer. Your conveyancer quotes the final figure. |
| Deeds Registry fees (estimate) | E 350 | An estimate of the registry’s fees. Your conveyancer quotes the actual amount. |
| Bond registration (estimate) | about 1.25% of the bond | A rough estimate of bond registration costs. The bank’s attorney quotes the final figure. |
| Bond repayment estimates | 10.5% over 20 years, 10% deposit, repayments up to 30% of income | Used for the “about … per month” figures. Your bank sets the real rate and decides what you can afford. |
| Source-of-funds declaration | from E 100,000 paid into trust | Above this amount you tell the attorney where the money comes from, as anti-money-laundering rules require. |
| Agent commission | 5–7% | A typical range quoted to us, not a regulated rate. Your mandate with the agency sets it. |
| Lakitsi Estimate | Baselines are being calibrated with local agents. It is not a valuation. | |
| Bond originators | Originators are usually paid by the bank, not you. Ask before you sign anything. | |
| Mobile-money limits and number prefixes | MTN MoMo: up to E 5,000 per payment · eMali: up to E 5,000 per payment · FNB eWallet: up to E 3,000 per payment | Larger amounts are split into several payments or paid by EFT. The number prefixes we suggest are a guide: check your number with your provider. |
Legal and regulatory points
If an answer changes how Lakitsi works, we update the app before launch and tell you.
- Transfer duty bands · 2% up to E 40,000, 4% to E 60,000, 6% above
We are confirming with the Eswatini Revenue Service that these bands are current. Your conveyancer calculates the duty you pay. - Signing a sale agreement electronically
Partner attorneys are confirming that an electronically signed Agreement of Sale is valid under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 2022. You can always choose “Wet-ink counterpart” on the agreement instead; your conveyancer will say which they need. - Online auctions of bank-owned homes
Partner attorneys are confirming whether an online auction of property a bank already owns needs a licensed auctioneer, and which consumer-protection rules apply. A bid becomes a sale only when the bank confirms it and both parties sign the Agreement of Sale. Sales in execution stay with the Deputy Sheriff; Lakitsi only lists their published notices. - Lakitsi never holds your money
Deposits go into an attorney’s trust account and rent goes straight to the landlord. We are confirming with the Central Bank of Eswatini that this model needs no payments licence. - Conveyancing tariff and Deeds search fee
We are confirming the current tariff with the Law Society and the Registrar of Deeds. Your conveyancer’s quote is what you pay. - Rental deposits and notice
Partner attorneys are confirming the deposit limits and notice periods that apply to residential leases. The Lakitsi lease will follow their advice. - How long registration takes
Timings shown in deal rooms are typical, not promised. The Deeds Registry and your conveyancer set the actual dates. - Who appoints the conveyancer
By convention the seller appoints the transferring attorney and the buyer pays the transfer costs. Partner attorneys are confirming this. - Professional updates
Partner professionals agree to update the deal room within one business day during the pilot. - Record keeping · 5 years
We are confirming the anti-money-laundering retention period for ID and deal records. - Swazi Nation Land
Lakitsi only lists the transfer of improvements with the chief’s consent; the land itself is never sold. By custom kukhonta is undertaken by Eswatini citizens and the chiefdom decides; confirm eligibility with the umphakatsi. We are confirming the wording with traditional authorities and attorneys. - Fees for agency listings
An agency’s fee to Lakitsi comes from its own commission under its agency terms, never from the owner’s proceeds.
Terms in the agreements
Terms marked † in the Agreement of Sale, the lease or the improvements agreement.
- Mediation (sale and lease) · E 1,500
If the parties cannot settle a dispute within 10 business days, a mediator from the partner-attorney panel helps them settle. The fee shown is indicative and is shared equally. - Arbitration
If mediation fails, an arbitrator appointed by the Law Society of Eswatini decides, or the parties go to the courts of Eswatini. - Occupational rent · 1% of the price per month
Payable by the buyer if they move in before transfer is registered. - Late rent · 10% of the rent
The penalty a lease may charge when rent is more than 7 days late. Being confirmed with partner attorneys. - Interest on a rental deposit
A deposit not held as a Protected Deposit is kept by the landlord in an interest-bearing account and refunded as the lease sets out. - Spouse, lessor and household consent
A married party may need their spouse’s written consent (including in a customary marriage); a leasehold sale may need the lessor’s consent; an SNL transfer needs the household’s witnessed consent.
See also Fees & plans and the Terms of use. Pilot prices. No VAT is charged until Lakitsi is VAT-registered; we’ll tell you before that changes.