RATES AND YOU What are rates? Under local government law, everyone who owns a property must pay a local government tax. This tax is called rates. Who has to pay rates? Anyone who owns a property must pay rates. In the same way that you pay VAT on the goods you buy in the shops, rates are a tax on property. Do I have to pay rates if I have a bond because I am still paying for my house? Yes, you must still pay rates. Every property owner must pay rates If I rent my house, must I pay rates? No. But your landlord, the person who owns the house, must pay rates If I have a business property, must I pay rates on that too? Yes, rates must be paid on both businesses and private houses. Who collects the money that is paid in rates? Your local council collects the rates money. What does the local council do with the money collected for rates? Money paid for rates is used for development projects - such as the building of sports stadiums, swimming pools, parks, libraries and museums, local roads and other things which are used by the whole community. The rates money also pays for the repairs and maintenance to all these. The rates tax also pays for clearing the litter, refuse collection, sewerage and other services that the council provides. Does my local council make a profit on rates? No, your local council spends all the money it receives on the upkeep and improvement of services in your community. Rates enable the local government to deliver services to the people .Does everyone pay the same amount in rates? No, some areas have higher rates than other areas, and people living in larger houses or who own larger pieces of land will pay more rates. Older properties may not cost as much in rates, as the age and condition of the buildings is taken into consideration. People living in areas with many services may be asked to pay more rates.

Why must I pay rates if there are few facilities in my area? The money collected from rates also helps to build new facilities, parks, libraries, playing fields and so on. Your council needs to collect money so that it can build new facilities as well as maintain those which are already built. If you feel that there is a need for more facilities in your area, contact your local councillor Must I pay rates if I own a piece of vacant land? Yes. How does the Real Estate Department work out the cost of the rates to be paid? A valuer from the local council, following strict valuation rules, will determine the value of your land and your dwelling. Land and buildings will be valued separately and a special formula applied to calculate the amount of rates owed. Land is valued at market value and the value of the buildings is worked out on the cost of replacing it less the depreciation - depreciation refers to the age and condition of the building. Does the amount paid in rates represent the market value of my building and land? [the amount I could sell them for]. Not necessarily. The land value represents the market value of the land as if it was vacant. The buildings on the land are also valued. The rates bill will be higher for a relatively new house, than for an old, dilapidated home - although the value of the land might be the same. If I make improvements to my house, will I have to pay more in rates? Yes, you may have to pay more in rates if you have increased the value of the building. Who will tell me how much to pay?

If you are a homeowner, you will receive a bill for rates from your local council. Are there any concessions made for people who cannot afford to pay rates? If you own a dwelling valued between R 0 - 30 000 you will not pay rates. Owners of dwellings valued over R 30 001 the life-line tariff will be as follows: Property Values Non Sewered Sewered R 30 001 - R 40 000 R 261.00 R 306.00 R 40 001 - R 50 000 R 326.00 R 382.00 R 50 001 - R 60 000 R 391.00 R 459.00 R 60 001 - R 70 000 R 846.00 R 994.00 R 70 001 - R 80 000 R 1042.00 R 1223.00 R 80 001 - R 90 000 R 1237.00 R 1 452.00 R 90 001 - R 100 000 R 1 498.00 R 1 758.00 Properties valued at R 100 001 and above will pay rates according to the valuation of the property Enquiries: (031) 328 1200 Where do I enquire about my rates? The address where rates should be paid will appear on your rates bill. Rates are usually paid at your Local Offices. You can pay your rates at the following offices: Offices Telephone Hours Durban Central 311 1111 Mon-Fri 07.30-15.30 Florence Mkhize Bldg. Sat 07.30-11.30 251 Smith St. Durban

Inner West 718 2111 Mon-Fri 07.30-15.30 Pinetown Civic Ctr. Sat 07.30-11.00 60 Kings Road Cnr Crompton St.

North 032-533 9943 Mon-Fri 07.30-15.30 151 Wick Street Sat 07.30-11.00 Verulam (1st & last Sat. of the month)

South 913 4300 Mon-Fri 07.30-15.30 Mayor Mews Sat 07.30-11.00 Kingsburgh Gracestate Rd ( last Sat. of the month) Winkelspuit

Outer West 765 6012 Mon-Fri 07.45-15.00 2 Delamore Rd Hillcrest

Umkomazi 039-979 5311 Mon-Fri 08.00-16.00 No 1 Civic Street

Tongaat Townboard 032-944 1155 Mon-Fri 08:00-15:45 325 Main Road Sat 08:00-11:00 Tongaat (last Sat. of the month) What if I don't agree with the amount I am charged for rates? Rates cannot be appealed against by the ratepayer. But you can appeal against your property valuation. If you do not agree with the municipal valuation you may make an application to the Director: Real Estate, 13th & 14th Floor, 75 Winder Street, Tel: 362 4111 - where you can complete an appeal form. A deposit of R 100 is required, but it will be refunded when the appeal is completed. Compiled by:

Regional Centres Customer Care Services Tel: 0800 331 011 Head Office: 718 2111 EMail: assist@durban.gov.za How often must I pay rates? The rates year is from 1st July to 30th June the following year. Some people prefer to pay their rates once a year, while others prefer to pay each month. If you wish to pay your rates monthly, then you must fill in an application form and send this to your local rates department. How soon must the rates be paid? If you pay monthly, then your rates instalment must be paid by the end of each month. If you pay annually, then the rates for the year must be paid by 31 January. What happens if I do not pay my rates? If rates are not paid by the due date, penalties and collection charges will be charged at a total of 23% per year. If rates are still unpaid by 31 March, a one time charge equal to 15% of the original cost is added to cover the cost of collecting the money. After that, the council will send final notices by registered mail. Finally, if rates remain unpaid, the law states that the council must auction your property to recover the money owed in rates. What happens if I sell my house? To register the transfer of ownership on a property from one person to another, a clearance certificate is required by the Deeds office. To get this certificate, you must prove you have paid all your municipal bills, electricity, water and rates. Where can I go for help? If you live in North Central or South Central Durban you can go to: Rates Department 3rd Floor, Florence Mkhize Building, 251 Smith Street Tel: 311 1111 or contact your local council.

AMARATES NAWE Yini amarates? Kusemthethweni ukuthi wonke umuntu ongumnikazi womuzi kumele akhokhe izintela. Loluhlobo lwentela kuthiwa amarates. Ubani okumele akhokhe amarates Noma ubani ongumnikazi womuzi kumele akhokhe amarates. Kufana nendlela yokukhokha iVAT oyikhokhela impahla oyithengile ezitolo, kanti amarates wona ayintela yezindlu. Kumele ngiwakhokhele yini amarates njengoba nginebhondi engiyikhokhela umuzi wami kumanje? Yebo, kumele uwakhokhele namarates, wonke umuntu ongumnikazi womuzi kumele awakhokhele amarates.

Uma ngikhokha irenti, kumele ngiwakhokhele yini amarates? Cha, kodwa umuntu oqashe kuyena, okuwumuntu ongumnikazi womuzi, uyena okumele akhokhe amarates kulowomuzi orenta kuwona. Uma nginebhizinisi, kuzomele ngikhokhele amarates nalapho? Yebo, amarates kumele akhokhelwe indawo yebhizinisi kanye nesakhiwo okuyindlu ohlala kuyona. Ubani oqoqa izimali ezikhokhelwa amarates? Umkhandlu wendawo ohlala kuyona okuyiwona oqoqa izimali zamarates.

Wenzani umkhandlu ngezimali oziqoqile ngezintela zamarates? Izimali ezikhokhelwa amarates zisetshenziselwa imisebenzi yentuthuko - njengokwakhiwa kwezinkundla zemidlalo, amachibi okubhukuda, amapaki, amalayibhurari nezinqolobane nezinye izinto ezisetshenziswa umphakathi. Izintela zamarates zibuye zikhokhelwe nokwenza imisebenzi yokulungisa nokuqikelela imigwaqo, ukukhuculula imfuza, ukuthuthwa kukadoti nendle kanye neminye imisebenzi enokulethwa umkhandlu. Ngabe umkhandlu uyayenza yini inzuzo ngamarates? Cha, umkhandlu wendawo yakho uyisebenzisa yonke imali oyitholayo ukuze kuqikelelwe kuphinde kusimamiswe imisebenzi eyenzelwa umphakathi. Amarates asiza uhulumeni wendawo ukuthi adlulisele imisebenzi edingekile kubantu. Ngabe abantu bakhokha izimali ngendlela elinganayo yini? Cha, kwezinye izindawo amarates aphezulu kunakwezinye izindawo, kanti abantu abahlala emizini emikhudlwana noma abaneziza ezinkulu kuyomele bakhokhe kakhudlwana ngasohlangothini lwamarates. Imizi emidala kungenzeka ingakhokhi amarates aphezulu, njengoba iminyaka nesimo sezakhiwo nakho kubhekelwa. Abantu abahlala ezindaweni ezinengqalasizinda ethe ukusimama bona bangazithola sebekhokha kakhudlwana. Zincane kakhulu izinto zomphakathi endaweni yami, manje kufanele ngani ngikhokhele amarates? Izimali eziqoqiwe zamarates ziyasiza ekwakheni ingqalasizinda entsha, amapaki, amalayibhurari, nezinkundla zemidlalo nokunye. Umkhandlu wakho udinga ukuqoqa izimali ukuze ukwazi ukwakha ingqalasizinda entsha uphinde uqikelele lezo ezivele sezikhona. Kumele ngiqhubeke yini ngikhokhe amarates uma nginesiqeshana somhlaba ovulekile? Yebo UMnyango wakwaReal Estates uzibala kanjani izimali zamarates okumele zikhokhwe? Umhlaziyi weziza ovela emkhandlwini wendawo, elandela imiyalelo enqala, uyoqagula inani lomhlaba wakho nomuzi wakho. Umhlaba kanye nomuzi kuyohlaziywa ngokwehlukana bese kutholakala ifomula okubalelwa kuyona izimali okumele zikhokhelwe amarates akweletwayo. Inani lesakhiwo libalwa ngokwezindleko okumele zikhokhelwe ukwakha kabusha umuzi kwephulwe inani lokwehla kwamandla emali - ukwehla lokhu kubalelwa ngokweminyaka nesimo somuzi Ngabe inani lenkokhelo yamarates lilingana nenani lasezimakethe ngokomuzi nomhlaba wami? [sisho isamba ongadayisa ngaso umuzi]. Akunjalo ncamashi. Inani lomhlaba lilingana nenani lasezimakethe uma kubhekwa umhlaba okungakhiwe lutho kuwona. Umuzi okulowomhlaba nawo uyakalwa unikwe inani. Isikweletu samarates siphezudlwana uma kuwumuzi okhangayo omusha, ukunomuzi omdala, omubi - yize noma inani lomhlaba lilingana. Uma ngiwulungisa kabusha ngiwuthuthukisa umuzi wami, kungamele ngikhokhe amarates aphezulu yini? Yebo, kungamele ukhokhe kakhulu ngamarates uma ulenyusile izinga lenani lomuzi wakho. Kwenzekani uma ngingahambelani nesamba okuthiwa ngiyasikweleta ngamarates? Umnikazi womuzi ongahambelani nesamba semali esigagulwe umasipala angafaka isikhalazo kuMqondisi wakwaReal Estates, Real Estates Department, 13th & 14th Floor, 75 Winder Street. Ucingo: 362 4111 - ilapho ofike uthole khona ifomu yokukhalaza. Ubani obalayo ukuthi kumele ngikhokhe malini ngamarates? UMnyango wakwa-Real Estates womkhandlu wendawo yakho uyokukalela ngokwenani lomuzi wakho. Kuthi uMnyango wama-Rates wona ukubalele ukuthi kumele ukhokhe malini. Iminyango ilandela imigudu ethile eshicilelwe ngokomthetho kahulumeni kazwelonke. Uma unomuzi olinganiselwa enanini eliphakathi kukaR0 - R30 000 awuzunxuswa ukuthi ukhokhe amarates. Abanikazi bemizi ephakathi kukaR30 001 nangaphezulu bayonxuswa ukukhokha amarates ngokohlelo olulandelayo: Ukukalwa Izindawo Izindawo Kwamanani Ezingenawo Ezinamapayipi Ezindlu Amapayipi Endle Endle

R 30 001 - R 40 000 R 261.00 R 306.00 R 40 001 - R 50 000 R 326.00 R 382.00 R 50 001 - R 60 000 R 391.00 R 459.00 R 60 001 - R 70 000 R 846.00 R 994.00 R 70 001 - R 80 000 R 1042.00 R 1223.00 R 80 001 - R 90 000 R 1237.00 R 1 452.00 R 90 001 - R 100 000 R 1 498.00 R 1 758.00 Uma isikalo sezintela zedolobha (Rates) singaphezu kuka - R 100 001, kuyobe sekusebenza uhlelo okwejwayelekile lokukhokha amarates. Imibuzo: (031) 328 1200 Akhokhelwa kuphi amarates? Ikheli lehovisi kumele ukhokhe khona amarates liyovezwa encwadini yakho yesikweletu. Amarates avamise ukukhokhelwa emahovisi akho omkhandlu. Ungabuza futhi ukhokhele amarates akho kulamahovisi alandelayo. Indawo Ucingo Isikhath Durban Central 311 1111 Mon-Fri 07.30-15.30 Florence Mkhize Sat 07.30-11.30 251 Smith St. Durban

Inner West 718 2111 Mon-Fri 07.30-15.30 Pinetown Civic Ctr. Sat 07.30-11.00 60 Kings Road Cnr Crompton St.

North 032-533 9943 Mon-Fri 07.30-15.30 151 Wick Street Sat 07.30-11.00 Verulam (1st & last Sat. of the month)

South 913 4300 Mon-Fri 07.30-15.30 Mayor Mews Sat 07.30-11.00 Kingsburgh Gracestate Rd ( last Sat. of the month) Winkelspuit

Outer West 765 6012 Mon-Fri 07.45-15.00 2 Delamore Rd Hillcrest

Umkomazi 039-979 5311 Mon-Fri 08.00-16.00 No 1 Civic Street

Tongaat Townboard 032-944 1155 Mon-Fri 08:00-15:45 325 Main Road Sat 08:00-11:00 Tongaat (last Sat. of the month) Ubani oyongitshela ukuthi ngikhokhe malini? Uma ungumnikazi womuzi, uyothola incwadi yesikweletu samarates evela emkhandlwini wakho. Kumele ngiwakhokhele kangaki amarates ami? Unyaka wamarates uqala mhlaka 1 Julayi kuye ku30 Juni onyakeni olandelayo. Abanye bancamela ukuwakhokha kanye ngonyaka, kanti abanye bawakhokhela zinyanga zonke. Uma uthanda ukuwakhokhela nyangazonke, kuyomele ugcwalise ifomu yesicelo uyithumele emnyangweni wangakini wezamarates. Kumele asheshe akhokheleke kanjani amarates? Uma ukhokha nyangazonke, amarates akho ayohlale esesimweni esifanele. Uma ukhokha ngonyaka, amarates akho kuyomele akhokhwe engakashayi umhlaka 31 Januwari.

Kwenzekani uma ngingawakhokheli amarates ami? Uma amarates engakhokheliwe ngesikhathi esinqunyelwe, kuyobe sekufakwa nenzalo elinganiselwa ku23% ngonyaka. Uma engakhokhwa kuze kushaye umhlaka 31 Mashi, kuyoba nemali enqunywayo engu 15% yemali elinganiselwe kwebigaguliwe ukuze kubhekelwe izindleko zokukoleka imali. Emveni kwalokho, umkhandlu uyothumela izexwayiso zokugcina ngeposi elirejistiwe. Ekugcineni, uma amarates eqhubeka nokungakhokhwa, umthetho uthi umuzi wakho kungamele udayiswe ukuze kutholakale izindleko zemali ekweletwa ngamarates. Kwenzekani uma ngidayisa umuzi wami? Ukubhalisela ukudluliselwa komuzi komunye umuntu usuka komunye umuntu, kuyodingeka isitifiketi emahovisi okuthiwa iDeeds office. Ukuze kutholakale lesisitifiketi, kumele uveze isiqiniseko sokuthi uzikhokhe zonke izikweletu zikamasipala, ugesi, amanzi namarates. Siwakhokhelani amarates? Sikhokha amarates ukuze silekelele ekubhekelweni izidingo esizilethelwa umkhandlu wendawo. Uma engekho okhokhela amarates, ngeke yaba khona imali yokubhekelela imigwaqo, izinkundla zemidlalo, amapaki, izinqolobane, ukukhucululwa kwendle, ukushanelwa kwemigwaqo nakho konke okulethwa umkhandlu ezindaweni zabantu. Ngingaluthola kuphi usizo? Uma uhlala endaweni engaphansi koMkhandlu oseNyakatho noseNingizimu emaphakathi nedolobha, ungaya lapha : Rates Department 3rd Floor Martin West Building 251 Smith Street Durban Ucingo: 311 1111

noma uxhumane nomkhandlu wendawo yangakini