Cape Town ratepayers urged to scrutinise new property valuations

The City of Cape Town is urging ratepayers to check their new property valuations and lodge objections if they believe they’ve been inflated.

The city said the new valuation could see about sixty per cent of Cape Town homeowners facing decreased or the same municipal rates despite residential properties increasing in value.

However, the Cape Town collective ratepayers’ association says the city’s latest property valuations will still result in rate increases for many homeowners.

The Cape Town Collective Ratepayers' Association (CTCRA) said while the average residential property valuation has risen by 17 per cent, many homeowners are still seeing increases of between 25 and 140 per cent.

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Association chair Bas Zuidberg said the city’s claim that a lower rate-in-the-rand will bring relief is misleading as properties valued above an 11 per cent increase will pay more for rates.

"The city has not said what is going to happen to the rate-in-the-rand for other property categories, nor how the fixed charges for water, sanitation and cleaning will be affected, and we find ot is irresponsible since it only paints part of the picture."    

The city has urged ratepayers to check their home’s value change by visiting Capetown.gov.za.