Valuations: Time for Objections Running Out

The City of Cape Town's Valuations Department today issued a strong reminder to residents that the deadline for objections to property valuations expires on Saturday, 24 March. It said there would be no extension to this date.

This deadline applies to all properties except sectional title units, the deadline for which is 30 April.

Valuations Director, Chris Gavor, pointed out that, due to delays in the postal service at certain times, and as a gesture of goodwill, the City would still accept objections received up to 5 April.

He appealed to property owners who intended to object but had not done so yet to take advantage of the opportunity they still had.

Gavor once again stressed that the fact that property valuations had risen by 3,5 times in the past six years did not mean that rates would increase by the same margin.

He said of a total of 7 000 objections received so far, 15% had been defined as 'priority'. These were largely cases where objectors were requesting a reduction in the valuation of their properties of 20% or more.

The 7 000 objections received so far represent approximately 1% of the total number of properties valued.

Gavor said 65% of the objections received were considered 'normal and valid', while 20% had been classified as frivolous. These included objections not based on the required facts, and a number complaining about service delivery and other non-valuation issues.

He said those objections deemed to be valid were currently being processed and the property owners concerned would be notified about developments in due course.

Gavor pointed out it was a legal requirement that the City undertake a review of all valid objections and make adjustments to the Valuation Roll where necessary.

He said property owners who were not satisfied with the verdict had the right to appeal to the Valuations Appeal Board, an independent body established by the Premier.

Issued by:
Communication and Marketing City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201
Fax: 021 957 0023

Media Queries: Chris Gavor
Director Of Valuations
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 1345