Inflated property valuations put Joburg residents at risk: City’s appeals process questioned

[@herbiemaree4069]

Rates and taxes based on valuation is absurd. It must be based on service provisions only. Why must we be penalized for the value of the improvements seeing that we already paid transfer cost, vat, water, electricity, refuse removal and sewage. Enough is enough, rates based on evaluation is legalized theft.

[@monicakieck7501]

Anc is thumbsucking the values of properties all over SA; we used to pay rates on land only; now Anc are charging rates on what they think the value of the property is; old people that have lived in their 3 bedroom 1 bathroom 1 garage home for 50 years; in the same street; municipalities now don't check these properties; they are going according sales reports where there is a 6 bedroom house; 3 bathrooms; 2 garages; now these old people have to pay the same rates; just shocking😢

[@Sheri-kp8nr]

What CoJ does to Jhb pensioners is shocking! A CLASS ACTION is way to go. Hoards of citizens should report them to SAPS.

[@cherylburger1534]

A class action is required

[@nataliewerth7308]

My mom was forced to sell her house in Parkhurst due to this it was so tragic

[@Debzan-dx2nk]

Seems very much like a pathway to land without compensation....

[@gbone7581]

expropriation by taxation!

[@timhiggo2097]

I would suggest that all affected citizens take the time to go to their local SAPS and lay charges of fraud and corruption against the city. Perhaps a local lawyer can create a standard complaint that is defensible whilst naming the officials in the complaint. Once there's tens of thousands of SAPS cases, have outa challenge SAPS and the parliamentary oversight of SAPS to demand answers from SAPS and potentially then raise with the president for a full SIU investigation

[@chris123457839]

Thankyou for bringing this to light

[@roelanpeens-pretorius2006]

My question is, who is connected to the independent valuation company doing this for COJ? I believe some politicians are receiving nice kickbacks for this, including the big heads of this 'independent' valuation company.

[@onlypremiumlife]

There is no independent valuation company, it's just a bunch of ANC cadres thumb sucking an amount and making peoples lives a misery. How I wish the DA where in charge of Gauteng.

[@klsvids8809]

Another 'inflated' charge on property is Water & Sanitation. The sewer charge is based on the stand size. I failed to comprehend how a sewer service extends to every square meter on a property. Draining pipe might only run on 2 sides of the property's perimeter. Jhb Water do service these sewage pipes. How do they justify basing the charge on the property size?

[@roynewton-barker8910]

Absolutely agree with you. This has been my gripe for many years. eThekwini charges a % of water consumption for sanitation, which makes a lot of sense!

[@craig6924]

Can the recent sale price of the property be used as the evidence to dispute value of the property if the price is less than the coj valuation?

[@marcusmoonstein242]

Yes it can, as long as it was legally an "arms length transaction". Basically this just means there was no special relationship between the buyer and the seller that could have caused the price to not reflect the true market value. Professional evaluators often use the recent prices of similar properties to estimate the value of a specific property. If the specific property in question was itself sold recently this provides the best argument for its current market value.

[@Marlene-Ferreira]

JOHANNESBURG'S VALUATIONS BALLOON MUNICIPALITY CHARGES ARE RIDICULOUS!! I'M TRYING TO GET THE ESTATES HOME REGISTERED ON MY NAME.... THE VALUATION WAS PUSHED UP DOUBLE UP!!! IT WENT FROM R850 000 TO R1M000800.00 IT'S LATELY R2M000 850.00 MUNICIPALITY'S RIP THE OWNER'S OF PROPERTY OFF!!!!

[@dianaedwards6113]

Thank you for bring this problem to the attention. Seriously need to deal with this and also the banks who over value property in order to charge a higher premium.

[@merylroberts1588]

This is to collect revenue and happening in other municipal areas.

[@kambrose1549]

In capetown i asked about my unreal caluation and was told that the city had to use the increase to cover costs so it was non negotiable for reasons of the budget. It wasnt about me but about them

[@marcusmoonstein242]

As a professional landlord in Jo'burg I'm used to spending tens of thousands of Rands every five years to fight council valuations. At this point it's become a cost of doing business.

[@AlbertusMBezuidenhout]

Bele Bela Municipality operates the same way! They inflate property values to gain tax incomes. The rates charged is also inconsistent! It seems to me they do as they like! They need money to finance their expenditure in areas where there is no income!

[@madeitthroughentertainment1658]

I'm going through the same thing. As soon as I saw the title, I jumped to watch. I'm paying R2700 rates and taxes on vacant land in Kibler Park imagine!

[@marcusmoonstein242]

You're totally being ripped off. I'm paying R2000 per month on a double stand in Rossettenville with a block of 14 flats built on it.

[@madeitthroughentertainment1658]

@@marcusmoonstein242 Imagine! Bought a stand for 350k and somehow the value went all the way up to 800k. I'm the second owner. They are ripping me off. I'll find a way around it though.

[@MuzorewaRatshikuni]

😂😂😂😂

[@MuzorewaRatshikuni]

​@@marcusmoonstein242 What is the valuation on this property?

[@cherylburger1534]

Pick it up is charged at over R400pm notwithstanding zero service

[@colin5777]

What a horrible place to live.

[@alwhy3124]

This is theft.

[@elainsteinberg8904]

Surely the property values should be based on last sale prices. If a resident has lived in their home for say 30 years an evaluation needs to be done by going into homes to evaluate. It should be done for no charge.

[@Neo...NotThatOne]

PLEASE investigate cape town's property valuations next.

[@Tammy10018]

Insane prices. You buy a tiny shack in CPT for like 3mil.

[@renekilner7712]

Anyone who has a problem with their appeal, must request a copy of deliberations of the appeal board and the basis of the calculations of the CoJ valuer to be sent to them. You are legally entitled to this information.

[@AndreWesthuizen]

The valuers do not inspect properties. To arrive at the new values, they simply increase the old values by a percentage. They do this from home, takes them 4 hours to run the program in Excel, and then they submit their Rx million invoice for payment.

[@cherylburger1534]

I am 73 and unable to drive or walk due to COVID. I own property in Kensington South. Due to uncontrollable crime I was forced to sell at 30% of the municipal valuation.

[@alwhy3124]

Same thing is happening in Nelspruit/Mbombela.

[@nqobilemdhladhla276]

I can't sell my property for anything close to the municipal valuation. I no longer live in Joburg so I can't come physically to object.

[@hcbnett]

Class action against the COJ ..so we are supposed to all equal before the corrpt law??

[@elainsteinberg8904]

Estate agents, experts in their areas, are more qualified to evaluate a property. At no cost to the home owner. Another money making scheme.

[@ErikThiart]

Cape Town does it too, coct valuations are insane and not at all reflective of the market

[@hedleyfurio]

Is there a basic formula for best guess e.g Suburb land value R xx per sq meter , PLUS , Improvements R yy per square meter * factor 1 for new , 05 for average condition. 0.2 for run down .

[@bhekamkhize3422]

eThekwini is doing the same thing. This is daylight robbery. Pathetic!

[@Scott.Silburn]

I wonder how EWC could tie into this?

[@pool69-y2l]

Crooks for decades

[@domperignon1607]

Not condoning this practice in Gauteng HOWEVER why did the Western Cape municipalities received a thumbs up for the same practice for the last decade or so.. A practice that saw the marginalised stay in their concentration camps..

[@agoodfilter7139]

The ANC in 1994: We will take revenge for 300 years of oppression

[@jewels211966]

Loser FO for GO

[@Tammy10018]

Our appeal took over a year to sort out. Ekhurleni

[@christopherbuckley619]

Langeberg municipality must be watched in 2025. A BEE valuer is used and overvalues properties for the municipality The rate used by the municipality to calculate the rates charge on a R2100000.00 is more than double that of Mossel Bay

[@christopherbuckley619]

Mossel Bay is a very well run municipality but Langeberg is not well run in recent years ( since 2013 has deteriorated significantly)

[@MuzorewaRatshikuni]

You cannot have it both ways Chris. Firstly, you boast to friends and family about what a great purchase/investment your property is that it has appreciated in value. Then when the Municipality agrees with you and gives you the high valuation which was then basis of your boast to friends and family, you cry foul! Off course, I don't mean you personally Chris - I'm just illustrating using you, what property owners do.

[@christopherbuckley619]

@ I understand that municipalities require revenue from property rates/ taxes. However values of properties are deliberately overstated by municipal valuers or their appointed valuers in order to generate easy income. It is a tragedy that 80% of municipalities do not provide adequate services to many residents in their municipal areas and also do pay Eskom for electricity due by them

[@johnbutler7542]

Can't wait for OUTA to sort this lot out, can't even sell my house for the municipal value.

[@MuzorewaRatshikuni]

I own property in a township called Diepsloot. The valuation on the property was R3m on a 300m2 stand, surrounded by shacks. I like the Afrikaans expression, "Kan jy dit oorvertel?!". Needless to say, I objected. I think the Municipal valuer just sits in the office and sucks a figure out of their thumb! Anyway, after the objection, the Municipal value was brought down to R1.1m . Still very high for a property in the area.

[@WanderHorizona]

I like the price you whi.. have lot of money