Big shocks in Windhoek valuation roll

SOME property owners in Windhoek might be in for a shock when inspecting the new provisional property roll, which has been open for scrutiny since Monday.

The values of some properties have doubled and even tripled, which will result in much higher property rates for their owners. The roll was supposed to be out a month ago, but was delayed.The valuation roll must be compiled by a valuer and contain the particulars of the property valued, the name of the owner and the size of the property.The Windhoek municipality has given property owners 21 calendar days from Monday to lodge objections and complaints, should they not agree with the new values set by the municipality.According to Horst Boediker, Chairman of the Windhoek Ratepayers’ Association (WRA), values have skyrocketed and angered many of the association’s members.”The value of my own property has tripled,” Boediker told The Namibian.”We encourage all property owners to inspect the valuation roll and lodge a complaint on the prescribed form, which is available at the Customer Care Centre,” Boediker said.The Valuation Court will sit from Monday, September 18 to consider the objections lodged against the increased property values in terms of Section 69(b) of the Local Authorities Act of 1992.Properties are valued every five years and the last time it was done it caused angry reactions from Windhoek ratepayers.The objectives of the Valuation Court are to consider every valuation contained in the provisional valuation roll, to hear any objections lodged in connection with any valuations and to determine the value of all rateable properties in the city.The roll was supposed to be out a month ago, but was delayed.The valuation roll must be compiled by a valuer and contain the particulars of the property valued, the name of the owner and the size of the property.The Windhoek municipality has given property owners 21 calendar days from Monday to lodge objections and complaints, should they not agree with the new values set by the municipality.According to Horst Boediker, Chairman of the Windhoek Ratepayers’ Association (WRA), values have skyrocketed and angered many of the association’s members.”The value of my own property has tripled,” Boediker told The Namibian.”We encourage all property owners to inspect the valuation roll and lodge a complaint on the prescribed form, which is available at the Customer Care Centre,” Boediker said.The Valuation Court will sit from Monday, September 18 to consider the objections lodged against the increased property values in terms of Section 69(b) of the Local Authorities Act of 1992.Properties are valued every five years and the last time it was done it caused angry reactions from Windhoek ratepayers.The objectives of the Valuation Court are to consider every valuation contained in the provisional valuation roll, to hear any objections lodged in connection with any valuations and to determine the value of all rateable properties in the city.