MUNICIPAL Manager Xolelwa Msweli has announced that Inxuba Yethemba Municipality will, in future, not register municipal accounts to the names of property tenants.
This decision was taken after the municipality suffered substantial financial losses due to tenants vacating properties without notifying the municipality.
Since July 1 this year, only registered property owners can open new municipal accounts. This implies that tenants have to pay the due municipal accounts over to property owners, and property owners then pay the municipality.
Thus the responsibility of municipal accounts remains with the registered owner.
IYM has also requested that family members of deceased property owners notify the municipality immediately, so that the relevant account can be closed.
Upon supplying the municipality with the necessary legal documentation, i.e. death certificate of the owner, family members can request to register a new account with the municipality.
Such new account holders will then become responsible for rates, taxes and services (e.g. electricity and refuse) of the property.