By Goya Dmytryshchak
Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay ratepayers are coming forward in droves to say their properties have been wildly over-valued after receiving their council rates notices last week.
A 96-year-old Footscray man has been told his home’s value has more than doubled in two years, pushing up his rates bill by $1938 to $3832.
Jonathan Manallack said his elderly father was devastated.
While the average general rate increase is capped at 2.25 per cent across all properties, individual rates vary in a revaluation year.
Revaluations are conducted every two years, with the last one carried out in January.
In both council areas, valuations were determined by independent valuers and certified by the valuer-general.
From 2019, valuations will be conducted annually with the valuer-general to become the sole valuation authority by 2022.
Mr Manallack said Maribyrnong council estimated the value of his father’s Victoria Street house had risen from $695,000 to $1.47 million since 2016.
“He’s been here for over 50 years,” he said. “I know house prices are elevated around the area but to go up $735,000 in a two-year period is pretty steep I reckon. But what had happened, a few years ago council changed all the zoning … because we’re close to a station and public transport, you [can build] a six-storey apartment building.”
A Williamstown resident said his Chandler Street property was valued at $668,000 more than two years ago.
“The capital improved value [market value] went from $1,390,000 to $2,058,000, so that’s an increase of $668,000 or 48 per cent increase,” said the man, who asked not to be named.
“That’s just ridiculous. I’m going to be filling out the objection notice. I’ll probably go to the ombudsman as well.”
Numerous other ratepayers took to resident groups on social media or contacted Star Weekly to complain about their valuations.
Maribyrnong corporate services director Celia Haddock said: “Council uses the net annual value system to determine its property rates – which is the fairest system for the ratepayers in our city.”
Hobsons Bay chief executive Aaron van Egmond said people must understand that market changes in the past two years would have considerable impact on their rates.
“We understand rate shock and this has happened in recent years when ratepayers get their individual rates bills,” he said.
