Property value lookup

Two official figures say what a property is worth on paper: the price it last sold for, registered at the Deeds Office, and the market value the municipality put on it for rates. ErfCheck finds both from a street address.

Free: erf number, township, last registered sale and imagery. No owner names.

The two values, and what each one means

• Last registered sale price (free): what the property sold for at its last transfer, and the year. An old sale reflects the market of its year; a transfer by inheritance or donation carries no market price.
• Municipal value (R99 report): the market value on the council's valuation roll, as at the roll's date of valuation, set by mass appraisal. Your rates are a percentage of it. ErfCheck reads the rolls of 50 councils.

Neither is a bank valuation or today's asking price. ErfCheck shows the registered and published figures as they are, not a computer estimate; the report sets the municipal value beside recent sales on the street or in the scheme so you can judge it.

Councils whose municipal values ErfCheck reads

Cape Town · Johannesburg · Tshwane (Pretoria) · Ekurhuleni · Nelson Mandela Bay (Gqeberha) · Durban (eThekwini) · KwaDukuza (Ballito) · Mangaung (Bloemfontein) · George (Garden Route) · Emfuleni (Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) · uMhlathuze (Richards Bay, Empangeni) · Mbombela (Nelspruit) · Polokwane (Pietersburg) · Mogale City (Krugersdorp) · Madibeng (Brits, Hartbeespoort) · Overstrand (Hermanus) · Msunduzi (Pietermaritzburg) · Drakenstein (Paarl, Wellington) · Stellenbosch (Franschhoek) · Rustenburg · Sol Plaatje (Kimberley) · Swartland (Malmesbury) · Steve Tshwete (Middelburg) · JB Marks (Potchefstroom) · Govan Mbeki (Secunda) · Midvaal (Meyerton) · Saldanha Bay (Vredenburg, Langebaan) · Thaba Chweu (Sabie, Graskop, Lydenburg) · Ndlambe (Port Alfred, Kenton-on-Sea) · Kannaland (Ladismith, Calitzdorp) · Umdoni (Scottburgh, Pennington) · Swellendam (Barrydale, Suurbraak) · Cederberg (Clanwilliam, Citrusdal, Lamberts Bay) · Bergrivier (Piketberg, Porterville, Velddrif) · Greater Tzaneen (Tzaneen, Nkowankowa, Haenertsburg) · Oudtshoorn (Dysselsdorp, De Rust) · Langeberg (Robertson, Montagu, Ashton, Bonnievale) · Witzenberg (Ceres, Tulbagh, Wolseley) · Thabazimbi (Northam) · Bitou (Plettenberg Bay) · Kouga (Jeffreys Bay) · Newcastle (KZN) · Knysna (Sedgefield) · Breede Valley (Worcester) · uMngeni (Howick, Hilton) · Matlosana (Klerksdorp) · Buffalo City (East London) · Ray Nkonyeni (Port Shepstone, Margate) · Mossel Bay · Matjhabeng (Welkom)

Sale prices and erf details are national: they come from the Deeds Office, whichever council the property is in.

Questions

Can I look up a property value for free?

The last registered sale price and year are free for any address. The municipal value, sales on the street or in the scheme, suburb medians and a rates check are in the R99 report.

Why is the municipal value different from what the house would sell for?

The roll values every property as at one date of valuation, often a year or more before the roll takes effect, by mass appraisal. Prices move after that date, and individual features the valuer could not see are not in it. If it is too high, you can object.

Does ErfCheck give an estimate of what my house is worth?

No. It shows the registered sale price and the municipal value, with the sales around the property, rather than an automated estimate.

Is my area covered?

Sale prices are national. Municipal values come from 50 councils, including all eight metros; see the list.