The property assessment roll indicates the actual value of a given piece of property. This assessment is established by the city appraiser, or his or her representative.

In order to establish the actual value of property on the assessment roll, the Direction de l’évaluation has a legal obligation to create a file containing a description of each building in the agglomeration of Montréal and to update that information.

Examination of your property

The appraiser or his or her representative has the authority to visit and examine your property under the Act respecting municipal taxation. Several items are examined by the appraiser:

• lot development
• building area
• level of maintenance
• renovations
• building location
• any income that is generated

A technician or inspector could examine your property if you recently purchased it or if you have performed renovations or built an addition. He or she can examine your property even if no changes have been made. The Act respecting municipal taxation calls for buildings to be inspected every nine years.

The information that the appraiser collects constitutes part of the file on your property. This file is a fundamental element in the process of creating and updating the assessment roll.

It is important to facilitate the city appraiser’s access to your property: The appraiser’s representative must be able to visit your property, examine it and ask questions in order to complete your file. The representative will introduce himself or herself and show proof of identity.

The Direction de l’évaluation foncière also uses other techniques to update the data on your property: sales investigation, request for construction costs, collection of financial data, or self-declaration form to complete.

After the examination of your property

Based on the examination, an appraiser will determine if changes have been made to your property since the last visit. One of the following situations will apply:

• No changes have been made to your property:
  • No changes will be made to the assessment roll.
  • You will not receive a notice of alteration.
• Minor changes
  • No changes will be made to the assessment roll currently n force.
  • No additional invoice will be issued.
  • The changes will be made on the next roll.
• Major changes:
  • The appraiser will determine the new value of your property.
  • You will receive a notice of alteration by postal mail informing you of the effective date of your property’s new value.
  • You will receive a revised invoice for your municipal tax account.