By Julian Merry
Until recently, property assessment in Ontario was a provincial matter. That meant the province would decide the value of your property through its vague and archaic process. This often produced inaccurate values which were based on old or even non existing properties. Any recourse for a favourable resolution was mostly a dream because the bureaucrats were in control.
Believe it or not within the last 2 years Ontario’s property assessment process has been totally revamped. For starters it’s not under a government agency. It’s under a non-profit agency called MPAC (short for Municipal Property Assessment)
The good news it’s a free service, computer friendly and fast.
So let’s assume you completely disagreed with your property assessment. Let’s say you know the assessed value of your neighbours’ house. They’re house is identical to yours with a significantly lower assessment. Your first thought is probably depressing because you think you’ll have to fight the province to win. We never win.
But that was the old way and your instincts were probably right.
The new way is easy and fresh. Better still you are in control, not Queens Park. First go on line and link into the MPAC web site. There, they will ask you for your login number and password both found on your assessment form.
Remember this is a free service.
Once in you go to your property to check on specifics like age, lot size, room dimensions etc. The next step is to find similar houses in your community with the same specs. Believe it or not you can choose 24 houses you think can support your case.
Now you are building your case. You are picking the houses you think will prove your assessment is out of whack. This process is easy, and in a way fun, because you’re seeing what others houses are priced at.
If you find your analysis is proving you right you build your report right on the spot. Remember you will need to file your complaint before March 31 2009 with a “Request for Reconsideration” form. You wait up to 90 days for an answer. Don’t forget to take action before March 31 2009.
To start the process, get your assessment form ready and go to www.mpac.ca and follow the simple instructions.
Julian Merry is a Business Development Officer with Royal LePage R.E.S. Ltd./ JOHNSTON & DANIEL DIVISION. Julian is a regular contributor to the Muddy York Blog and his website is located at www.julianmerry.com.
