A realtor from the Cowichan Valley has lodged a complaint regarding BC Assessment with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia

Jason Anson, a realtor with eXp Realty, filed a Freedom of Information request with BCA in August to determine how many property owners in B.C. appealed their property assessments in 2023 and 2024, and how successful they were.

He said his FOI request was met by BCA with procedural delays, shifting definitions, and a fee estimate of $736.49 for the requested information, and he claims that BCA is demonstrating systemic non-compliance with the provisions of the province91裸聊视频檚 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

91裸聊视频淚nstead of straightforward answers, I faced delays, roadblocks, and an unreasonable fee [from BCA],91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 calling for greater transparency in BCA91裸聊视频檚 appeals process. Despite BCA91裸聊视频檚 claim that 98 per cent of homeowners accept their property valuations without appealing, I91裸聊视频檓 arguing the public is being left in the dark about the actual outcomes of those who do challenge their assessments. [BCA] touts the 98 per cent figure, but what about the two per cent who appeal? How many win? What does that say about the system91裸聊视频檚 fairness?91裸聊视频�

Anson has successfully helped dozens of homeowners in the Youbou area appeal property assessments that they considered too high over the last couple of years.

He has said the continuous over-assessments by BCA year after year are not limited to Vancouver Island, but is a province-wide issue in all rural areas, especially for waterfront owners.

Anson said his work with the Youbou Appeals Group in 2023 revealed just how inaccessible the system is.

He said that of the 109 property owners in the province who saw their appeals reach a full written submission and decision by the provincial assessment appeal board, he was the expert witness in 25 of those cases, representing 23 per cent of all provincial appeals last year that went to a full board decision.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 109 decisions out of hundreds of thousands of assessments,91裸聊视频� said Anson. 91裸聊视频淢ost people can91裸聊视频檛 get that far. It91裸聊视频檚 clear the system isn91裸聊视频檛 designed to be accessible.91裸聊视频�

Anson91裸聊视频檚 efforts over the past two years have resulted in more than $15 million in reductions for property owners, but he believes broader accountability is needed.

91裸聊视频淧roperty taxes are one of the biggest annual expenses for homeowners, yet BCA doesn91裸聊视频檛 provide basic appeal data that would help property owners make informed decisions," he said.

"This isn91裸聊视频檛 just about me, it91裸聊视频檚 about public accountability.91裸聊视频�

Anson said this highlights a critical gap in the province91裸聊视频檚 property assessment system.

He said as homeowners prepare to open their new property assessments from BCA in early January, many may wonder that if they disagree with their assessments, is the appeals process worth the effort?

91裸聊视频淧eople deserve to know how often appeals succeed,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲ithout transparency, we91裸聊视频檙e left to take BCA91裸聊视频檚 word for it, and that91裸聊视频檚 not good enough.91裸聊视频�

BC Assessment said in a statement that it does not comment on requests that are before the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.