Thousands of pensioner homeowners in Johannesburg will not have to go through the hassle of re-applying for their property rates rebates this year.
The City of Johannesburg has confirmed that existing approved pensioner property rates rebates will automatically continue throughout the 2026/27 financial year.
The rebates will remain in place until 30 June 2027, provided beneficiaries continue to meet the applicable terms and conditions.
The extension applies to pensioners who were approved under the City’s current General Valuation Roll (GVR2023).
More than 38 000 pensioners received reliefThe City says the move is intended to reduce the administrative burden on elderly residents who are already receiving the benefit.
“Existing approved beneficiaries do not need to re-apply this year,” said Kgamanyane Maphologela, Director of Communications and Stakeholder Management in Group Finance.
The rebate provides significant financial relief to elderly homeowners.
During the 2025/26 financial year, the City granted pensioner property rates rebates to 38 308 elderly homeowners, providing more than R329.8 million in rates relief.
The automatic extension means these existing beneficiaries can continue receiving their approved rebates without submitting another application for 2026/27.
New applicants still need to apply
The automatic extension does not mean that everyone who qualifies will receive the rebate automatically.
Homeowners who are applying for the first time must still submit an application.
This includes homeowners who have recently turned 60 and meet the City’s qualifying requirements.
Application forms can be obtained by emailing ratescomments@joburg.org.za, visiting a City Customer Service Centre or downloading the forms from the City’s website.
How much can pensioners receive?
The rebate depends on the pensioner’s age, income and the market value of the property.
For pensioners aged 60 to 69, the property must have a market value of no more than R1.5 million.
Those earning less than R13 519 gross per month may qualify for a 100% rebate.
Pensioners earning between R13 519 and R23 172 per month may qualify for a 50% rebate.
Pensioners aged 70 and older qualify for a 100% rebate, irrespective of income, provided they meet the other requirements and the property falls within the applicable R2 million market value threshold.
Applicants must also meet the requirements set out in the City’s Rates Policy.
One important requirement is that the municipal account must not be in arrears, unless the homeowner has an approved payment arrangement in place or has lodged a formal dispute.
The rebate is also limited to one property where an applicant owns more than one property.