Property Owners
Guidelines for Release of Assessment Data
Background
Protection of Personal Privacy
Access to Information
Requesting Property Information
Available Reports and Information
AboutMyProperty™
Requests for Information
Information for tenants
Government Bodies
Municipalities and Third Parties
Background
The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) administers a uniform, province-wide property assessment system based on current value assessment. The management of MPAC information, including the collection, retention and release of all corporate data is governed primarily by the requirements of the Assessment Act, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation Act. In addition, other relevant legislation, regulations, binding agreements, and decisions of the courts and regulatory authorities may affect the manner in which MPAC manages its information.
MPAC manages the release of assessment data in a manner that meets the needs of property taxpayers, municipalities and other stakeholders; protects personal information of property owners and tenants; preserves the proprietary interests of the Corporation; and utilizes the most cost-effective and timely fulfillment practices.Protection of Personal Privacy
MPAC is committed to the protection of privacy by managing the collection, use, disclosure, retention and disposal of personal and non-personal information in a manner that complies with the requirements of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), the Assessment Act, the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario (IPC) and all other relevant legislation, regulations and tribunal/judicial rulings.
'Personal information' as defined by the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act means recorded information about an identifiable individual and includes, but is not limited to a person's name, address, telephone number, religion, age, sex, marital or family status or financial transactions involving the individual.
MPAC may, from time to time, release aggregate information in the form of demographic studies or other extracts constructed from the analysis of personal information. However, these products neither identify individuals nor enable others to extrapolate their identities.
Except as permitted/required by law, MPAC does not release income and expense information, personal information, or any other data that would enable the identification of individuals, or certain corporate proprietary information.Access to Information
Every property owner has the right to know and access the information MPAC has on file for their property as well as receive information and assistance to help them understand their assessment. Property owners can access information about their property and other properties free of charge from MPAC.
This information includes:
- the physical characteristics of a property;
- its location;
- classification; and
- assessed value and other related assessment information.
Requesting Property Information
The owner of a property or a person who has received or is entitled to receive a Property Assessment Notice may request information about their property.
Persons licensed by the Law Society of Upper Canada to practice law (lawyers) or provide legal services (paralegals) may request factual information on behalf of a property owner. A Representative Authorization Form signed by the property owner is not required.
An individual exempt from licensing by the Law Society of Upper Canada may request factual information on behalf of a property owner. Individuals exempt from licensing include:
- an individual acting for a family member, friend or neighbor;
- an individual acting for a non-profit organization;
- an individual who is employed by a single employer and provides the legal services only for that employer and to no person other than the employer; and,
- a constituency assistant.
Exempt individuals acting on behalf of the property owner must submit a Representative Authorization Form signed by the property owner every taxation year.
In addition, members of the following organizations have a limited exemption from Law Society licensing:
- Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario;
- Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals; and,
- Appraisal Institute of Canada (in the designated membership category).
Members of these organizations are required to provide a membership number or suitable identifier.
All requests for property information from persons who are not licensed by the Law Society but wish to represent a property owner must:
- fully complete (every taxation year) MPAC’s standard Representative Authorization Form, ; or,
- provide MPAC with a written statement signed by the owner, authorized company signatory, executor of and estate, person with power of attorney authorization, etc. every taxation year. If this is a request from a corporation, corporate letterhead must be used.
All requests for property information must contain:
- the property assessment roll number;
- property address;
- owner name(s):
- mailing address,
- telephone number, fax number (if applicable), and e-mail address (if applicable).
Note to Representatives: MPAC’s provision of information to you as an authorized representative should not be construed as an acknowledgement of any right to act on behalf of any person in the provision of legal services as defined by the Law Society Act (Section 1(6)). MPAC will only engage in discussion with respect to a Request for Reconsideration or an assessment appeal with persons who are licensed by the Law Society or individuals who are specifically exempted by the Law Society as outlined above.
For more information on licensing and exemptions from licensing, please visit the Law Society of Upper Canada website at http://www.lsuc.on.ca .
For an online copy of the Representative Authorization Form, click here.
Available Reports and Information
AboutMyProperty™
MPAC’s AboutMyProperty™ is a secure, website that provides assessment information for your property and similar properties in your area. Through this self-serve application, property owners can access basic information such as year of construction, square footage, site area, legal description and current value assessment on up to 100 properties. You can also request a detailed report that includes assessment information, site information, recent sales information and structural information on your own property and up to 24 other properties of your choosing. This information is free of charge through AboutMyProperty™.
For information requested through AboutMyProperty™ the following reports are provided free of charge for each taxation year:
- one (1) Property Profile Report for your own property;
- up to 100 Property Snapshots available;
- a Properties of Interest Report on up to twenty-four (24) properties of your choosing; and,
- where available, a Sales Report that includes up to fifteen (15) sales (this report is available for residential properties only).
If your record is not displayed in AboutMyProperty™, please follow the options below for making a written request to MPAC.
Please see the release schedule for business property profiles, click here.
Property owners without high speed Internet access at home wishing to access AboutMyProperty™ may visit any of MPAC’s field offices, ServiceOntario Service Centres and participating public libraries.
Requests for Information
The following information is available free of charge for each taxation year:
- one (1) Property Assessment Detail Report for your own property (this report is available for residential properties only);
- a Properties of Interest Report on up to twenty-four (24) properties of your choosing; and,
- where available, a Sales Report that includes up to fifteen (15) sales (this report is available for residential properties only).
Property taxpayers may also request up to six (6) comparable properties (as available) chosen by MPAC.
In addition, property taxpayers may request a Property Assessment Detail Report for their own property and the properties selected through the Properties of Interest Report (up to 24 properties). The Property Assessment Detail Report is only available for residential properties and the request can be made by contacting MPAC.
Also available free of charge upon request is a Residential Market Model Report for your area. For more information on requesting this report, click here.
Market Model Reports for other market areas or the previous assessment base year can be purchased for $250.00 plus applicable taxes each.
Information for tenants
Upon request, a tenant is entitled to receive the information maintained by MPAC in respect of a property, or the portion of a property, leased by the tenant and to receive any other information about the property.
Tenants of properties valued on the income approach can gain access to:
- information pertaining to the space they occupy;
- Gross Leasable Area of the building (common areas and corridors are not included);
- total assessed value of the property;
- Vacancy and Expense Allowance;
- Capitalization Rate or Gross Income Multiplier GIM used to value the property; and,
- Fair Market Rent. In the instance where fair market rents and actual rents are the same, this information cannot be released without proper authorization by the owner.
As outlined in Section 53. (4.1) of the Assessment Act, tenants are not entitled to any actual income and expense information for the property.
Properties valued on the income approach include shopping centers, office buildings, commercial/industrial malls and apartments.Government Bodies
MPAC provides a variety of products and services (including those required or permitted by legislation or regulation) to municipal, provincial and federal governments and their agencies. Depending on the product or service, MPAC may or may not charge a fee.
For additional information please contact: MPAC Government RelationsFax: 905 837-6134
Municipalities and Third Parties
Municipalities are statutory parties to all assessment appeals. In addition, other persons may file appeals or be added as parties to appeals by the Assessment Review Board (ARB). These other persons are referred to as “third parties.” When responding to Requests for Information from municipalities and third parties, MPAC staff must comply with the requirements of the Assessment Act, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation Act.
Municipalities requesting information about a property they own have the same entitlements as any other property owner under this policy. They may receive:
- one (1) Property Profile report and up to 24 comparable properties– free of charge; and,
- MPAC will provide property information on up to six (6) comparable properties (as available) that are selected by MPAC or the municipality.
Municipalities and third parties requesting information about properties they do not own, are entitled to receive the same number of reports listed above, free of charge, only when the information is required for preparation related to an appeal properly filed with the ARB by the municipality or a third party. Copies of all information provided to municipalities and third parties under this process are also forwarded to the respective property owner.
Upon request, municipalities and third parties who choose to participate in the preliminary proceedings, settlement negotiations and hearings with respect to an assessment appeal are provided all information listed above, free of charge and on a timely basis. The exception to this is any actual income or expense data.
When a request is not related to an assessment appeal, or where the request exceeds the free entitlements listed above, a fee will be charged for the products. Please refer to MPAC’s Product Catalogue and Pricing at propertyline for applicable rates. Large volume requests for information and custom data requests from municipalities and third parties that are not appeal-related should be forwarded to products@mpac.ca for pricing.
If the property is valued using the income approach, and actual income and expense information is requested, parties must either obtain the consent of the owner or an order from the Assessment Review Board (ARB).
Municipal employees/officials with questions may contact their local Municipal Relations Representative at MPAC. Third party representatives should contact MPAC:
E-mail: Contact Us
Fax: 1 866 297 6703
Mail:
The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
Guidelines for Release of Assessment Data
PO Box 9808
Toronto, Ontario
M1S 5T9
If you have questions about the costs for these written requests, please contact MPAC Business Development at:
E-mail: products@mpac.ca
Phone: 877-671-6722, press 1
