A KwaZulu-Natal company, eValuations, has re-assessed property values of 20 000 properties in the uMngeni (Howick) area, but the assessment has been branded as being “critically flawed” by representatives of residents’ groups who are challenging the valuation roll.

Democratic Alliance councillor Tex Collins slated the rates valuations undertaken by the company in eThekwini and says that its work in uMngeni had been poorly executed and was inaccurate.

He says the company over-valued some properties, under-valued others and omitted some properties entirely from the valuation assessments.

The Concerned Ratepayers and Residents’ Group of Howick has pointed out what seems to be glaring under-valuation of non-residential developments in the region.

The group’s Rob McLaren says that when comparing the market value of six properties on the 2007 valuation roll with the current roll the different assessments could only mean that the properties had been under-valued.

He points out, for example, that the Cedara agricultural complex had been valued at R31-million but this had now risen to R160-million; the Quarry Shopping Centre was valued in 2007 at R23-million and is now valued at R37-million and the Howick Private Hospital’s value increased from R2,2-million to R19,5-million.

eValuations was responsible for completing the 2007 and the current property assessments. Company valuer Abubaker Rahim could not account for the discrepancies of the valuations but did concede that mistakes could have been made because the 20 000 properties had to be assessed within six months.

He says that four years ago it was possible that only the land was valued and the assessment might not have included the buildings that had been built on that land. Rahim says it takes at least three to four valuations before consistency is achieved.

Netcare’s regional financial manager at the private hospital, Leroy Hendrickse, says that the rates charges for the hospital had risen from R1 000 a month to R3 584,67 a month over the past four years. He is not aware of the company lodging an objection to the valuation or the rates assessments.

Cedara College is built on land owned by the Department of Public Works and according to the department’s asset manager Sharon Diedericks, no additional buildings had been constructed on the 14 371 050 sq m site.

Bertus van der Merwe, the financial officer at uMngeni municipality says that property owners who are dissatisfied with the assessments can lodge an objection with the council.

Readers' Comments Have a comment about this article? Email us now.

I am a professional property Valuer of some 35 years experience, and have, as a sub-contractor, undertaken major rating valuations for eValuations in Durban, Port Elizabeth and eKurhuleni.
Howver, I remain totally impartial and hold no brief for eValuations.
I was disappointed by the article, because it shows that the reporter has litttle, or no grasp at all of the issues. To me the article tells us nothing new and is merely a re-hash of what has gone before, with the name "Howick" inserted. It is clear to me that the reporter did no relevant or original research into the matter.
Readers with even a smattering of knowledge relatng to the processes of municipal valuations and rating would have learned nothing from the article, but those seeking another arrow to aim at Valuers and municipalities would have really enjoyed it.
Why don't you consider publishing an article which explains both sides of the story - not about Howick, but how these valuations are undertaken and why the work and don't work? - Terry Labuscagne