More than 15 years ago, Clive Massel anticipated the difficulties that private municipal valuers would have in tendering for municipal valuation rolls. He came up with the idea of creating a valuation business model that would not be subjected to a tendering process where the tender is often not awarded to the best candidate.
During his years as a municipal valuer, it always concerned him that there was nobody easily available to assist property owners. With the implementation of the Municipal Property Rates Act (MPRA), he realised it was the right time to act on this idea. His concept was to create a highly professional team that would focus on objecting to valuation rolls countrywide, on behalf of property owners.
Clive put together a highly professional team, all of whom are still active in their various roles at Rates Watch. The team comprised himself, Ben Espach, Kokkie Herman, Simon DuPlooy and William Hewitt. Christo Bokhorst joined this formidable team a few years later.
The first action was against the initial Ekurhuleni General Valuation Roll (GV2009). The results achieved by the team were devastating, bringing about substantial reductions in valuations and the rates that were linked to these valuations.
Valuation objections and appeals were lodged against all major valuation rolls throughout the country with similar results.
It became evident after this first series of objections, that there was a need far beyond just lodging objections and appeals. What was needed was a service to monitor rates accounts and rectify incorrect rate charges as well as monitoring valuation categories, which had a direct impact on the quantum of rates levied.
The famous Rates Watch Maintenance Plan was initiated in 2010 and has resulted in annual savings of rates and taxes running into millions of rands each year.
Rates Watch is a highly respected organisation in the specialised field of the MPRA. Fifteen years since the company was formed it still plays a very active and vital role in monitoring and watching property valuations and rates in South Africa.