Frustrated by high rates, at least 10 500 people in the eThekwini region have lodged objections to the increased valuations of their properties, but they could be in for a long wait before their grievances are addressed.
Home and business owners had until the end of last month to object if their properties had been overvalued or undervalued, or incorrectly categorised, in the second general valuation roll released in February.
But residents who missed the deadline could apply for a late submission by providing a covering letter to the objection form, in which reasons for the tardy submission were given.
The municipal head of real estate, Keith Matthias, said it was difficult to say when objections would be reviewed, saying each objection differed according to its nature and complexity.
Also, late objections were still being received.
“The municipality does, however, promise to work efficiently to thoroughly process each objection received,” he said.
The new property valuations – and attendant rates – come into force on July 1.
Overall, the municipality’s valuation base has grown from R393.7 billion to R421.6bn, an increase of 7 percent. The rate randage of 0.914 cents in the rand has been adjusted to ensure an overall increase in rates income of 6.5 percent.
One disgruntled ratepayer, Bernie Carr, said his property was half of what was once a semi-detached house now zoned for business in the Umbilo area.
Carr was among the people who objected to the first valuations, which were carried out in 2007.
He said his valuation was too high and, because it had taken the province years to set up the appeal board and to deal with objections, he had had to deal with threats of disconnection of services when he initially refused to pay the inflated rates.
Carr had bought the sectional title unit for R235 000 in 2000, and the 2007 valuation was just over R1.4 million. He appealed against this amount and, without any explanation, the value was reduced twice – first to R1.1m and then to R1 050 000.
“I was still not satisfied and went to the appeal board. Three years later, at the appeal hearing, I presented my private valuator’s figure of R675 000. One member of the appeals panel sitting behind a laptop looked at his ‘data’ and then mentioned a figure of R570 000,” he said.
Refunded
Carr accepted the figure and was refunded all the overpayments and interest amounting to R21 607, which was paid partly by cheque and partly by crediting his rates account.
“This was finalised in about March 2011. Now the most recent notice values my property at R1 140 000. When I phoned to query this obvious oversight of the last appeal decision, I was told: ‘This is a four-yearly valuation, so you will have start the appeal process all over again.’ What a waste of everybody’s time,” he said.
Municipal spokesman Thabo Mofokeng said a special report would be required to say how much had been refunded to ratepayers because of overvaluations.
He added that valuers checked if there had been previous disputes lodged on properties when they drew up the new roll for 2012.
Mofokeng did not respond to specific questions on Carr’s property valuation.
