Sectional title property owners reminded to make sure municipal rates, services are paid
18 September 2024
Property owners of sectional title units are reminded that, in addition to the levies paid to the Body Corporate, the rates and services account on their sectional title unit is still payable to the municipality.
All sectional title owners are responsible for their own rates and taxes, which is billed directly to owners by the City. These payments are not covered by the levies to the Body Corporate. Sectional title dwellings include individual houses, detached houses, townhouses, flats or apartments in a scheme.
When a person buys a sectional title property they are buying exclusive ownership of the unit or section while at the same time becoming joint owner of the common property of the developers.
Prospective buyers should always request a copy of the Body Corporate Municipal Account to ensure that the account is current and that there are no arrears. If there is a large amount of outstanding municipal debt, they would be liable for a portion of the total outstanding debt, should the City request the full outstanding amount.
‘Although sectional title holders have been responsible to settle all municipal rates and service bills since 2007, the City is regularly faced with sectional title owners who’ve unfortunately amassed large arrears amounts because of this oversight. We therefore would like to remind all property owners – both those who own freehold properties and sectional title holders - that they are responsible for the rates and service payments to the municipality.
‘The City issues a monthly invoice which indicates, among others, the amount payable as well as the due date for the owner to make a payment. It also contains useful information such as water and electricity usage and it can act as a first alarm of an underground leak that might be pushing up usage and costs.
If sectional title owners are not receiving a monthly municipal account, they should contact the City to ensure that their correct address is reflected on the accounts system. The easiest way to ensure that they receive their account every month is to opt for e-billing.
We are dependent on the income from rates and services to continue providing services. The high payment ratio that we have as a metro shows the level of trust in the administration. We were also recently lauded as the only metro in South Africa to get a clean audit.
‘The City thanks all of those unit owners who have been paying their rates timeously every month and we encourage those unit owners who have not paid rates or are behind with payments to approach the City’s Customer Interaction Centres to update their records and make arrangements to settle their outstanding accounts,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Councillor Siseko Mbandezi.
Switch to emailed accounts
Email: Forward email and contact number to: Revenue.Eservices@capetown.gov.za
SMS: Send a request for emailed accounts via SMS to 31223 (customers may also submit their request to be registered on eServices)
For general enquiries including water, electricity, accounts and motor vehicle licences, residents may call the City’s Customer Call Centre on 0860 103 089.
For account payments:
• EFTs: Select the City as a bank-listed beneficiary. Use only your nine-digit municipal account number as reference
• Retailers: Checkers, Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Spar and Woolworths
• e-Services: Use the City’s online e-services portal
• ATM: contact your bank to add the City as an ATM beneficiary
QR code payments:
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
