It’s that time again, when the Municipality will revise and update the General Valuation Roll relating to properties within its jurisdiction!!!
The process to update the General Valuation Roll will be implemented by the municipality on the 1st of July 2023.
Every four years the City of Johannesburg re-values the properties within its jurisdiction and update the General Valuation Roll, whereby the municipality undertakes to obtain information from property owners, city inspectors and technological means to determine a valuation for each and every property within its jurisdiction.
In terms of section 2 of the MUNICIPAL PROPERTY RATES ACT no 6 of 2004 read together with section 229 of the CONSTITUTION, the municipality is authorised to charge home owners levy based rates, determined by the value of their property.
The main purpose of the General Valuation Roll is for the municipality to ensure that they charge rates that reflect the market value which is fair, equitable and just.
The process to determine the valuation for every property is done through a process of observing:
- property market sales in the area;
- physical inspection;
- soliciting independent data;
- building plans;
- aerial photography of the properties to determine if any improvements have been made.
In situations where there are high walls and no visibility the city will send an inspector to attend on the property to obtain information regarding the property.
Once the valuation roll is completed, an updated municipal valuation will be provided to the public and all Home owners in writing. Home owners have a right to object to the amended valuations of properties, should they believe that the new value is not a true reflection of the property value.
After the inspection, objection and appeal stages have been exhausted, ratepayers will be expected to abide by the determined property values which will be used to levy property rates on a monthly basis for billing purposes.
Home owners are therefore cautioned to keep an eye out for the notice of the new Valuation roll and submit objections timeously.
By Karabo Zondo
