sign

Apply now! City extends pensioner support to Life Right Holders in Sectional Title schemes

13 August 2026

The City is now making pensioner rebate relief available to Life Right Holders of Sectional Title Schemes that are separately valued. Residents older than 60 years and with a household income R27 000 and below may be eligible for rates relief. At a later stage, the same benefit will be made available to Life Right Holders in freehold properties once their properties are separately valued. This valuation process will take approximately six months, after which applications will open for those residents too.

We’re asking our pensioners who are Life Right Holders in separately valued properties to apply for help with their rates costs. The City has expanded the qualifying threshold for pensioner rebate recipients to enable additional residents to benefit from rates rebates, with the qualifying limit now increased to a monthly income of R27 000. 

This benefit will be available for approximately three years, in line with the City’s General Valuation (GV) three-year cycle. To ensure that the life right holder continues to receive the benefit for the full duration, the City requires the property owner or scheme administrator to confirm the applicant’s occupation of the property on an annual basis.

Who qualifies for support?

  • Life Right holders in sectional title schemes and freehold properties that are separately valued, who are 60 years of age and older.
  • Have a household income not exceeding R27 000.

What are the benefits?

  • 100% rates rebate for those with a minimum income of R0 and a maximum income of R10 000.
  • Sliding scale of rates rebates depending on income.
  • 10% rates rebate for those with a minimum income of R24 001 and a maximum income of R27 000.

Documents required

  • Completed ‘Rates Rebate for Life Rights Holders’ application form (Click here) signed by both the Life Right Holder and property owner (company representative). 
  • Copy of ID of Life Right Holder and spouse/partner.
  • Copy of the Life Right agreement.
  • Proof of income of Life Right Holder and spouse/partner (pension fund slip (private or state) /rental income/investments/dividends, etc.).
  • Three months’ bank statements for all banking accounts.

How to apply:

Completed application forms can be submitted via one of the below channels:

  • In person by submitting the application at any of the Revenue Customer Interaction Centres
  • Via email by emailing the application to: Rates.Rebate@capetown.gov.za  

Reminder to all pensioners renewing rebates and for new applications

Grace periods and cut off dates for applications:

Rates rebates – renewals (every three years after a new General Valuation)

APPLIED FOR RENEWAL BEFORE 1 JULY 2026:

All pensioners and social grant recipients who submitted applications to renew their benefits before 1 July 2026 are thanked for their patience while their applications are being processed. Once approved, their benefits will be backdated to 1 July 2026.

AFTER 1 JULY 2026:

The renewal application process must be completed before 31 August 2026. Until the application is approved, residents will not receive rates discounts on their monthly municipal bill. Only those who apply by 31 August 2026 will have their rates rebate back dated to 1 July 2026.

The City has made more than R8,3 billion available in social assistance to qualifying pensioners and indigent residents for the 2026/27 financial year.

Back to Media releases