Valuations Appeal Board is operational
JOHANNESBURG – Truluck explained that a Section 52 review is triggered when the adjusted value after an objection is greater or less than 10 per cent of the objected-to valuation.
According to Ward 117 councillor Tim Truluck, the Valuations Appeal Board for Johannesburg is now operational and the board is currently busy with Section 52 reviews which are causing some consternation with property owners.
Truluck said in a statement, “There were about 50 000 valuation objections to last year’s General Valuation Roll. About 8 000 of these appealed their valuations. This leaves 42 000 objections to deal with – many of which would have triggered a Section 52 review.”
He explained that a Section 52 review is triggered when the adjusted value after an objection is greater or less than 10 per cent of the objected-to valuation. “Normally the review is carried out after the appeals have been dealt with. But this time around they are doing them before. I presume that the 8 000 appeals will be dealt with after the Section 52 reviews are finished. I estimate this will take one to two years to process.
“You had to have appealed your re-valuation, whether you agreed with it or not, to avoid the dreaded Section 52. If you didn’t appeal, and your re-valuation was more than 10 per cent, then you will trigger a Section 52 review which will be held without you knowing about it or being present. In many cases, your property value will be increased and your rates bill will be back-dated to July 2018.”
Truluck explained however that, unfortunately, there is no comeback or recourse beyond going to the High Court. Applications can still be made for a Section 78 query which will go onto the 2020 Supplementary Valuation Roll. But the applicant will be stuck with the current valuation until then.
It is also important to note that the Valuation Appeals Board is not a municipal function, but an independent body appointed by the MEC for Local Government under Section 56 of the Municipal Property Rates Act. The board consists of a legal representative and two professional valuers, registered at the SA Council for Professional Valuers.
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