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Property owners can object to the valuations of the properties listed in the proposed new Valuations Roll.
For the first time in Johannesburgs history, all properties have been valued on their market value as at July 2007
RESIDENTS are again reminded that they can object to property values listed in the proposed new Valuation Roll.
The roll is available for inspection at 10 different venues across the city. Property owners can hand over their objections to valuation staff especially deployed for this task at any one of these 10 venues. The Valuation Roll will only be reviewed again in 2012.
"We want to engage with people person to person," confirmed Werner Sarvari, the director for valuations in the City, during a special media briefing at the rates and taxes department on 18 March.
For the first time in Johannesburg's history, all properties have been valued on their market value as at July 2007. In the past all properties were valued on site value only. The property value determines the rates property owners will pay; because this is now linked to the property's market value, some people are likely to see a sharp increase in their rates.
The official objection period opened on 27 February and will run for 90 days, ending at 4.30pm on Tuesday, 27 May. To date, the City has received 2 092 enquiries, of which 292 resulted in formal objections. The majority of objections related to owners feeling their valuations were too high or sectional title owners questioning the individual property values in their complexes.
The valuation roll may still reflect the previous owner's information where a property was sold after the official valuation process was completed in July 2007; this was easy to correct and should not concern to new owners, Sarvari said.
Property owners who want to submit objections to their properties' valuations, must complete objection forms and should attach supportive documents relating to their objections. They will receive a receipt.
Review
The valuation review will start immediately after the objection period ends and will be done by the municipal valuer. "The review is based on the information on the objection form, the municipal valuer's information and additional market information."
Objectors will be advised in writing of the final decision and will have 30 days in which to appeal the decision after the final decision is posted; if they ask for written reasons for the valuation, they will have 21 days after the reasons are sent to the objector, to appeal the decision.
Sarvari cautioned, however, that the value of a property may be adjusted up or down during a re-valuation.
The City is working to ensure that the proposed Valuation Roll and new rates policy is introduced in a transparent manner, with the public getting ample time to object to both documents.
"We are commencing on an extensive auditing process during which the model and accuracy of [the City's] valuation process will be scrutinised by independent agencies," Sarvari said.
Objection forms are available from the 10 venues were the Valuation Roll is available for inspection, listed below, or on the Johannesburg eservices website.
North
Midrand Customer Service Centre
300 Fifteenth Road
Randjiespark
Midrand
Sandton Civic Centre
Corner West Street and Rivonia Road
Sandton
Randburg Civic Centre
Corner Bram Fischer Drive and Jan Smuts Avenue
Randburg
South
Ennerdale Extension 9 Customer Service Centre
Corner Katz and Smith Walk roads
Ennerdale
Jabulani Civic Centre
1 Koma Road
Jabulani
Soweto
Lenasia Civic Centre
Corner Rose Avenue and Eland Street
Lenasia
Eureka Customer Service Centre
Corner Glenroy and Pioneer roads
Pioneer Park
Springfield
Central
Thuso House Customer Service Centre
61 Jorissen Street, corner Simmonds Street
Braamfontein
Valuation Services Directorate
4th Floor, A Block
Metro Centre
158 Loveday Street Extension
Braamfontein
West
Roodepoort Civic Centre
100 Christiaan de Wet Road
Florida
Roodepoort
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