The Municipal Property Rates Act is new property rating legislation that regulates the powers of a municipality to value and rate properties located within its demarcated municipal boundary. The general basis of the valuations of a property is market value.
The Msunduzi Municipality resolved to implement the Municipal Property Rates Act (MPRA) on 1 July 2008. This means that the city was required to prepare a new General Valuation Roll reflecting the Open Market Value of all the properties within our municipality. A mass valuation service provider with an international track record, CB Richard Ellis, was appointed to prepare the General Valuation Roll for the municipality. Data collectors, employed by CB Richard Ellis, (in consultation with ward councillors) have collected valuation data in order to establish the market value of all properties within the municipality as at 1 July 2007. This fixed date of valuation ensures that all properties are valued equitably.
We take great pride in announcing that there has been significant co-operation by rate payers with the data collection process during the past year. Rate payers within the Msunduzi Municipality have allowed the data collectors to achieve an outstanding 80% access to properties. In relation to the national norm of only 28-32% this is a great achievement. The remaining 20% of the properties were valued by the use of alternate valuation methods, accepted by prevailing legislation. The MPRA makes provision for Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal methods for the valuation of properties. Our valuers have adopted this approach using aerial photocopy and digitizing the extent of properties and their improvements.
We would like to thank each and every rate payer for contributing towards securing an MPRA compliant valuation roll for our city. The Municipality will also like to extend their appreciation to sectional title scheme owners. The MPRA requires that each unit within a sectional title scheme is valued and individually rated. The Body Corporates responded to our call for information for the unit holders making the municipality’s task a lot easier.
The certified General Valuation Roll will be available for public inspection from February 2008 (Watch the press for more details). This mandatory inspection process will give the public an opportunity to object to any information that may have been included or omitted from the General Valuation Roll.
