Revaluation objection period extended for Red Zoners

Owners of Red Zone properties have an extra 10 days to object to their Rating Valuations.

The Christchurch City Council Committee of the Whole decided the extension was warranted following an approach from the Human Rights Commission which raised concerns about the way the revaluations were done in the Red Zone and the added stress for property owners.

The committee’s recommendation will go to the full Council meeting on Thursday 8 May for ratification. In the interim Red Zone property owners can go ahead and lodge their late objections which will be processed once the full Council signs off on the time extension.

The objection period for the city’s first post-earthquake valuation of more than 160,000 properties officially ended on Monday 28 April. Red Zoners now have until 12 May to lodge objections to their Rating Valuations.

Mayor Lianne Dalziel says the revaluation process complied with strict rules laid down by the Valuer General, but the Council is also mindful of the issues facing property owners in the Red Zone.

“We understand how upsetting it is for Red Zoners who disagree with the results of the recent city-wide revaluation, or are worried about loss of equity where there has been a major drop in the value of their property.

“Given the points raised by the Human Rights Commission, we are opting to exercise the discretion we have under a clause in the Rating Valuations Regulations. This allows us to extend the date for lodging objections to Red Zone property values.”

Note: Despite the extension to the objection deadline, the basis for objections remains unchanged. Under the methodology adopted for the Rating Valuation, property owners cannot object solely on the grounds of earthquake damage.

For more information on the revaluation visit: www.ccc.govt.nz/revaluation

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