Contesting Your Municipal Assessment in Montreal: Is Your House Overvalued?

Your house may be overvalued by $200,000: find out before you pay too much in taxes

The new property assessment rolls have been released across Greater Montreal. Every owner will receive a figure that will determine their taxes for the next three years. But behind this apparent neutrality lies a troubling reality: some households will pay too much, simply because the City got it wrong.

When a simple gap costs thousands of dollars

Imagine a house entered on the assessment roll at $900,000, when its actual market value as of July 1, 2024 is closer to $750,000. This $150,000 gap translates into about $1,000 in excess taxes per year. Over the full term of the roll, that is nearly $3,000 leaving your pocket for nothing.

And this example is not an isolated case. In our recent analyses in Ahuntsic, we found gaps of more than $200,000 between the value entered on the roll and actual sale prices. The chart below illustrates this: each point below the blue line represents an owner who is paying too much in the Ahuntsic sector.

Do you think your property is overvalued?Contact us for an analysis of your municipal assessment and support throughout the contestation process, free of charge and with no obligation.

📞 514-700-1221

OR CLICK HERE FOR AN ANALYSIS OF YOUR ASSESSMENT

Why do these errors happen?

The system is not based on individual inspections. The City uses statistical models and comparables. This is effective on a large scale, but imperfect for any individual owner. A balcony rebuilt without being declared, renovations that went unnoticed, a market that has declined since the 2021 reference date… and that is how a house can end up overvalued.

And make no mistake: an overvaluation does not increase the value of your house. It only inflates your bills. Your property taxes go up, and even the welcome tax (property transfer duties) for a future buyer becomes heavier. You pay more, with no benefit in return.

To contest or not: what you need to know

Many people think that simply finding their taxes too high is enough to contest. It is not. The only admissible basis is proving that the actual market value as of July 1, 2024 is lower than the value on the roll.

This takes time, sometimes fees, and above all solid comparables. The municipal assessor may maintain the value, or even increase it. A contestation must therefore rest on a rigorous file. But when there is a clear gap, the savings can be significant.

Watch the deadline as well: the request must be filed before April 30. After that date, you will have to wait three years before you can contest again.

Why check now

Our data show that a large share of assessments in Ahuntsic have remained frozen, even though many 2024 sales closed at prices below 2021 averages. This statistical inertia creates glaring injustices.

Doing nothing means accepting to pay too much. Acting now gives you the chance to save thousands of dollars.

Find out for free whether your house is overvalued

To help you, Équipe Lefrançois offers a free, personalized analysis, based on recent sales in your area. Within a few days, you will know whether your property is correctly assessed… or whether it is well worth your while to file a contestation.

Don’t let three years of overpayments slip by. Test your assessment today, at no cost and with no obligation.

Do you think your property is overvalued?Contact us for an analysis of your municipal assessment and support throughout the contestation process, free of charge and with no obligation.📞 514-700-1221

OR CLICK HERE FOR AN ANALYSIS OF YOUR ASSESSMENT