Your Cape Town Property Valuation Deserves a Second Opinion
The City of Cape Town is preparing to unveil its General Valuation Roll for 2025 (GV2025) on 20 February 2026, with valuations based on market conditions as at 1 July 2025. These assessments will determine your municipal rates from July 2026 onwards, directly affecting the cost of maintaining your carefully curated lifestyle in one of the world's most inspiring cities. While this administrative process unfolds behind the scenes, savvy property owners are already taking proactive steps to protect their investments.
At Knight Frank, we believe in the power of clarity. Just as we match discerning clients with their perfect homes, we're passionate about connecting homeowners with the financial transparency they deserve. An independent property valuation isn't just a second opinion. It's your assurance that the property you've invested in, the sanctuary you've nurtured, and the lifestyle you've built won't be diminished by inaccurate assessments.
Why One Size Doesn't Fit All Properties
Municipal valuations serve a specific administrative purpose, applying broad-stroke methodologies across thousands of properties simultaneously. They're efficient, certainly, but they can’t capture the nuanced elements that make your property unique. Mass assessments won’t capture the hours you spent planning the bespoke kitchen renovation that looks out at Table Mountain. A standard valuation will overlook the indigenous garden you've nurtured over the years, or the subtle market shifts that define your particular neighbourhood.
Professional valuations, by contrast, are intimate portraits of your property's true worth. Our valuers walk through your home, understanding its character, its position within the microcosm of Cape Town's diverse property landscape, and the intangible qualities that elevate it beyond square meterage. Professional valuations ensure accuracy for everyone involved. Accuracy benefits everyone: homeowners, the City, and the integrity of the public record.
The Cost of Complacency
Inaccurate municipal valuations affect more than just your annual rates. When your property is assessed above its true market value, you're locked into inflated rates that compound year after year. The costs add up quickly, eating into budgets that could otherwise go toward the renovations you've been planning or supporting your family’s goals. Common discrepancies happen when properties are valued without considering required repairs, when units in the same complex receive wildly different assessments, or when heritage homes are valued as if they're modern residences despite the increased maintenance obligations.
When you have an independent valuation, you have professional expertise and real market data supporting your case. The savings are substantial, often thousands annually in rates, protecting your budget and your ability to care for your home properly.
The Window of Opportunity
Once the GV2025 roll is published on 20 February, property owners will have a limited window to lodge objections. People who wait until the last moment to object will be scrambling to gather evidence, commission valuations, and pull together compelling documentation, all under deadline pressure with no guarantee of success. By securing your independent valuation now, you're not scrambling; you're prepared.
An independent property valuation is an insurance policy for your lifestyle investment. Whether you're planning to stay in your family home for decades, considering future sale options, or ensuring your monthly expenses are manageable, an accurate valuation gives you the foundation for confident decision-making.
Moving Forward with Confidence
Owning a home in Cape Town means more than holding a title deed. It's the morning coffee on your balcony as the sun rises over False Bay, the family dinners in spaces you've designed with care, the roots you've put down in your neighbourhood. Financial uncertainty and avoidable disputes with the City shouldn't cloud these moments.
At Knight Frank, we believe you should approach this opportunity with the same thoughtfulness you brought to choosing your home. We're here to provide the clarity and assurance you need, ensuring your property's valuation reflects its true worth in Cape Town's remarkable landscape.