DA advises residents on property valuations
In the absence of any advice from council on what residents may do should they disagree with their new property valuations, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni, recommends that objectors pay the rates as they appear on the bills they receive.
The DA’s shadow MMC for Finance, Eddie Taylor, says that unless there has been such gross errors on the resident’s property valuations that the increase charged could not be considered reasonable, the best option would be to pay in the meantime.
Taylor says the DA has advised many residents who have disagreed with their new property valuations, on what to do about paying their municipal accounts while they await the outcome of their objections.
“The objections review to the valuation roll will take some time to complete, but during this time, the metro will continue to bill residents at the new rate.
“During this process, residents have the options to either pay the amount they have been billed or what they believe they should be charged, in accordance with their objections,” says Taylor.
He says that once the valuation objection has been processed, a final valuation figure will be determined.
“Should the valuation come back as lower than the rate billed upon, that person would have their account credited with the shortfall.
“However, a resident whose valuation comes back at the same rate or higher, and who has been paying an estimated amount will be expected to pay in the shortfall,” says Taylor.
