Rates policy offers up to 100% rebate forpensioners

Johannesburg's newproperty rates policy will provide a varying degree of rebates for many pensioners who have reached the age of 60 or older.

Who qualifies for a pensioners rebate:

• Pensioners must own the property and personally occupy the property.
• Pensioners dependent on a National Security Grant qualify for a 100 % rebate on successful applications.
• Pensioners who are not on National Security Grant, but whose gross monthly income falls below R5000 qualify for a 100% rebate on successful application.
• Pensioners who are not on National Security Grant, but whose gross monthly income is higher than R5000 but less than R9000 qualify for a 50% rebate on successful application

Toqualify for a pensioners rebate, you must apply to the City and must complywith the following criteria:

• You must be 60 years or older;
• Your property value must not to exceed R1,5 million
• You must personally occupy the property.

Howto register for your pensioner's rebate

Step1

Applicantsmust complete a Pensioners' Rebate Form available from one the Customer ServiceCentres or from the city's website www.joburg.org.za

Step2

Submityour forms along with the following evidence to the Customer Service Centres

• Certified copy of your ID
• Certified copy of your pension card
• Coy of your Municipal Statement

How to workout your rates

New Value (available on www.joburg.org.za) - R150 000 =
Ratable Value
Ratable Value x Tariff = Annual Rates
Annual Rates ÷ 12 = Monthly rates payable

Example of residential property worth R1 million
R1 000 000 - R150 000 = R850 000
R850 000 x 0.004 = R3 400 per annum
R3 400 ÷ 12 = R283.33 per month

In the case of a pensioner whose gross monthly income is morethan R5000 but less that R9001, the monthly rates will reduce as follows;

R283.33 -50% is R283.33 - R141.67
The monthly rates will then reduce to R141.66 for a residentialproperty.

If the pensioner is the owner of a Sectional Title unit, themonthly rates will be calculated as follows:

R283.33 - 20% is R283.33 - R56.67
The Sectional Title rates will then be R226.66 Now we deduct thePensioner rebate of 50%;
Then we have R226.66 - 50%
R226.66 -50% is R226.66 - R113.33.
The monthly pensioner rates in our example will then reduce toR113.33.

Who is billedfor rates?

Theowner of the freehold property and the owner of one or more units owned interms of the Sectional Titles act.

Pensioners who live inSectional Title properties

Pensionerswho own Sectional Title will now be able to benefit from the rebates thatCouncil offers to pensioners. In the current system the Body Corporate isliable for the property rates and so the status of the individual owners cannotbe considered. In the new policy pensioners who own Sectional Title units mayapply for the pensioners rebate,if they meet the criteria stipulated. This rebate is in addition to the 20%rebate that is offered to Sectional Title unit owners.