Cape Town General Valuation Roll
Category Market Update
Homeowners should be aware that the City of Cape Town will open the 2022 General Valuation Roll for the City of Cape Town for public inspection between the 21st of February and the 30th of April 2023. Notifications have been sent out to homeowners, but if you have not received it, please be on the lookout or visit www.capetown.gov.za for more information.
The proposed valuations are based on the market value assessed by the City of Cape Town as at the 1st of July 2022. Property owners should check their valuations as these are used to determine the property rates that you will be charged.
Owners are able to lodge an objection if they do not agree with the proposed valuation and this must be done within the 60-day period until the 30th of April.
While the City uses various criteria to ensure fairness, the enormity of the task means that there will inevitably be many anomalies, and your property/ies may be overvalued. The objection period is quite short and property owners are advised to act as soon as they receive their notices. A detailed motivation backed by solid data will be needed for the objection.
Estate agents are usually well placed to assist homeowners with accurate valuations given that they are experts in local property sales and values. Seeff would be delighted to assist property owners with a free valuation for comparison, and a motivation letter if necessary to use as part of the objection.
Remember to keep a copy of your objection for your records. In terms of the process once an objection is lodged, the valuations are then assessed by a municipal valuer, who may either agree and amend the property valuation accordingly, or reject the valuation in the objection. The municipal valuer may also recommend an increase in the values of the property/ies.
An owner who is dissatisfied with the outcome of their objection/s, may appeal (to the Appeal Board) within 30 days of the ruling. An Appeal Board hearing is a formal hearing where the owner/s or their valuer are given an opportunity to provide oral evidence and to cross-examine the municipal valuer. Note that the onus is always on the owner to prove that the municipal valuation is incorrect.
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Author: Gina Meintjes
