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How It Works.

You submit a request, sign your onboarding pack, and hand it over. We deal with the municipality from start to finish and keep you updated every week.

The Process

Common questions, plain answers.

Here is exactly what happens from the moment you get in touch to the moment your case is closed.

1

Request a quote

Complete our short enquiry form at rates-ease.co.za/get-a-quote. Tell us which service you need, your property address, municipality, and contact details. This takes about 3 minutes.

We confirm your exact quote and send your invoice within 24 hours. Payment is made by EFT or Yoco payment link. Your case begins once payment is confirmed.

2

Sign your onboarding pack

Once payment is confirmed, we send you a Power of Attorney by email. This is a short, plain-language document that authorises Rates-Ease to act as your legal representative at the municipality. You sign it electronically — no printing, no posting.

The document covers only the specific service you have engaged us for, at the stated municipality. It does not authorise any financial transactions on your behalf.
3

Send us your documents

Once the POA is signed, we send you a specific document checklist for your service. For most services this includes:

  • →Certified ID copy — a clear copy certified at a police station, post office or commissioner of oaths
  • →Proof of residence — utility bill or bank statement not older than 3 months
  • →Transferring attorney letter — for account openings or RCC, a letter from the attorney handling your transfer
  • →Previous owner's account numbers — water, electricity, and rates account numbers where available
Full title vs sectional title: A full title property (freestanding home) includes water, electricity, refuse, and sewer on the rates account. A sectional title property (flat, townhouse, or complex unit) typically only includes rates and refuse on the municipal account — water and electricity are billed through the Body Corporate.
4

We handle everything

Once your documents are verified, we submit to the municipality and begin following up. You receive a weekly status update — either a meaningful progress report or a confirmation that we are actively following up.

The municipality's Land Information System (LIS) must first be updated to reflect the new ownership — this typically takes 2–8 weeks from transfer registration. Once updated, we can proceed with your account opening or rates application. We monitor this process so you don't have to.

✓

You receive your result

On case closure you receive your certificate, account confirmation, or closure letter — along with a complete case record including all submission receipts and correspondence. All your documents are retained securely for 5 years in compliance with POPIA.

For deposit refunds: the City of Johannesburg's refund process can take 4–7 months from account closure. We track this the entire time and update you at every milestone until the refund is paid.

About Municipal Deposits

What is the deposit and who pays it?

The municipality requires a consumption deposit when a new account is opened. This deposit is held as security and refunded when the account is closed. This deposit is paid directly to the municipality by you — not to Rates-Ease. We will confirm the deposit amount during your onboarding.

South African Citizens

Typically two months of estimated consumption. Paid directly to the municipality by EFT.

Foreign Nationals

The City of Johannesburg requires six months of estimated consumption as an upfront deposit.

Ready to hand it over?

Get a quote in minutes. We confirm within 24 hours and take it from there.

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