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  Economics Editor

Individuals will object less to a WOZ decision made by their municipality this year. This is what the Eigen Huis association, the homeowners’ interest group, and the Appraisal Chamber, which oversees property tax, expects.

Last year, objections were raised in a record number of about 675,000 homes. Then the WOZ rate rose by 17 percent, in line with house prices, and commercial agencies offered a lot of help in filing the objection.

WOZ stands for Real Estate Appraisal Law. Every year, homeowners receive a WOZ decision in which their municipality determines the value of the property. The tax amount is calculated on the basis of WOZ.

This year, the average increase in WOZ was a much lower 2.8 percent. “Then you encounter such a problem differently than you would with a large increase,” says Rod Kathman of the Evaluation Chamber. Vereniging Eigen Huis also sees this and therefore expects fewer objections. “Last year, people were very shocked by that 17 percent,” says Hans-Andre de la Porte of the interest group. “The lower percentage makes them feel better.”

The new rules also make filing an objection on behalf of an individual less lucrative for interception agencies. Until last year, interception agencies received several hundred euros in compensation for expenses directly from the municipality if they won a measure. Now these fees have been reduced by 75 percent, and the municipality pays them to the citizen. Interception agencies must arrange for themselves to be paid by private individuals.

“My impression is that interception agencies therefore advertise much less,” Katman says. This is also why fewer objections are expected. The Cabinet introduced the rules because municipalities were spending more and more money on them There is no unpaid treatment.Offices.

The Evaluation Chamber notes that some agencies now charge around €50 up front for lodging an objection. “Business models are changing,” Katman says. “Agencies are looking at how to automate processes. That way they hope to continue making a living from it.” He also sees businesses closing their doors. “They no longer find this market interesting.”

WOZ-Consultants raised about 14,000 objections last year There is no unpaid treatmentbasis for individuals. Manager Gus Austers expects only about 200 customers this year. “Regardless of the outcome, from now on, we will be paid in advance. We charge about 300 euros. If we win the case, people may pay about 170 euros in less taxes.”

Therefore, there is a high probability that you will pay more for the objection service than you will gain from the tax reduction. Oosters charges more than many other agencies because they do not automate objections. “For us it’s manual labor.”

Another agency, Honest WOZ, takes a different tack. And they remain on this basis There is no unpaid treatment for work. If the objection is successful, they ask the individual to transfer the costs of legal compensation from the municipality to the company.

Last year, they usually received around €450 directly from the municipality. This year they will receive only a quarter of that amount from customers: €112.50. “We did a lot of calculations,” says Hendrik van Weveren of Eerste WOZ. “We will continue in principle, because many WOZ values ​​are still very high. But compensation has fallen significantly, so there is a good chance of making a loss or just breaking even.”

Last year, Deventer took action against the high costs of numerous interception procedures. Financial advisor Marcel Elferink is happy with the new rules. He added, “These agencies withdrew a lot of public money from the market without the citizen having much influence.”

“They acted as if the citizens would leave several hundred euros if they did not object,” Elferink says. “But for the average objector, such amounts are not a problem. Sometimes it is not even a property tax reduction.” Last year, homeowners in Deventer paid an average of €338 in property tax, and this year they paid €353.

According to the municipality, reduced spending on intercept fees means there is more money left over for things like playgrounds, dog walking fields and sanitation.

Vereniging Eigen Huis is aware that the government has interfered with the payments. “There was a proliferation of agencies, it was easy to make money,” says Andre de la Porte. “It was public money.” “In most cases, as an owner, you can also object.”