Johannesburg homeowners have until 15:00 on Friday, 6 April, to object to the valuation of their property. The new General Valuation (GV) Roll 2018 (valid for the period July 1, 2018 – June 30‚ 2022) was made available for public inspection on 20 February 2018. Household municipal rates will be calculated based upon the valuation presented in the valuation roll.
News24 report Funzela Ngobeni, member of the mayoral committee for finance in the City of Johannesburg, said on Wednesday the City’s website, where the general valuation was available for inspection and objection, had by then been viewed 316 909 times. Nearly 25 000 users have used it to lodge their official objections.
To view the valuation of your property, visit the City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za) and click on the valuations link. Have a municipal account on hand as you will need your stand and portion number to search for your property. If you disagree with the valuation you find, you still have some time to object.
“However, at this late stage it would be better to present your objection in person,” suggests Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of REMAX of Southern Africa. There are 12 assigned walk-in venues throughout the city, including the City’s customer service centres in Midrand, Orlando East, Protea North and Jabulani. The full list of venues can be found under the “How Do I Object” heading on the General Valuations website.
“Homeowners will have to act quickly if they want to object to the valuation of their property, or face the consequences of higher municipal rates than necessary until the next valuation roll is released in four years’ time,” advises Goslett.
How to structure your objection
Based on geographical information and recent sales in your suburb, the city uses a computer aided mass appraisal (CAMA) system to determine the values of all properties. “The starting point for a strong objection will therefore include a neighbourhood evaluation that would justify why the valuation of your property should be lower. You can find these reports online, or at certain banks. Most will come at a cost of around R100. Next, you should have your home evaluated by more than one estate agent to provide enough evidence that your home is valued at a lower price than what the EV places it at,” Goslett explains.
“While the Valuation Appeal Board consists of a Chairperson with legal qualifications, it is not a court of law and you will not need to bring a lawyer to lay your objection. However, it can be helpful to have your estate agent with you in case any queries arise that you are unable to answer,” Goslett concludes.
IMAGE SOURCE: trafalgar.co.za
