"The council has also reflected shifts in value for properties with specific characteristics, for example those with weathertightness issues and those with land formation changes such as subsidence."
The council issued further information saying leaky houses fell into two categories - those known to leak and those built in a way commonly associated with weathertightness problems.
Algies Bay retiree Brian Mudge said his seaside property dropped in value from $2.2 million to $1.7 million.
The keen golfer of Mariners Grove claims he and his neighbours have been paying high rates on high-valued properties which for years were probably worth less.
His 1040sq m waterfront property has an annual rates bill of $6841 which he says is exorbitant in the bay popular with holidaymakers and retirees.
Now, he calculated the wider area has taken a $15 million hit.
Many properties he had checked had dropped by exactly the same amount as his, and he believes 30 properties in his area could have each fallen in value by $500,000.
He is one of 1536 homeowners objecting to the latest revaluation.
But the council's valuation team leader, Peter McKay, said Rodney had not been revalued since September 1, 2007 "and that was at the peak of the market".
Values in the area had certainly declined.
Mr McKenzie said a single rates system would be introduced next year, so the revaluations were only one factor affecting rates.
Other factors included adopting capital value instead of land value and decisions on business differentials, targeted rates and uniform charges.
Coatsville resident Frank Pearce his $1,220,000 valuation had dropped to $1,050,000 and he was objecting.
Miriam Dunningham, of Riddell Rd in Glendowie, is bewildered by her valuation.
"My house has dropped from $910,000 last valuation to $850,000 this valuation. This is made up of an increase of $60,000 on the improvements and a drop of $120,000 on the land."
Steve Hames, of Western Springs, said valuations in his area were not at market rates. He cited a property sold in February for $910,000 and now with a valuation of $1 million, another sold two months ago for $980,000 but valued at $1,060,000 and one sold five months ago for $862,000 valued at $960,000.
Grant Black's leaky Auckland apartment halved from $120,000 to $60,000 but rates had not dropped, he complained.
"We have talked to the council and apparently we will be paying rates on the old value through into 2012 before the new valuation kicks in," he said.
Mary-Ellen Hinton's Sandringham house value rose 10 per cent but details of its size were wrong.
"They told me my house was three bedrooms and 129sq m. In fact my house is four bedrooms and 140sq m," she said.
Paul Magill of Auckland says he was was told by the council of the delay in reviewing valuations because of the significant number of properties.
"They will try to get all objections looked at by July 2012. They will try to get back to us in eight months.
"That's like the engineers at work: when they say two weeks I double it and schedule four."
Going down
* Brian Mudge, Algies Bay: from $2.2m to $1.7m
* Frank Pearce, Coatsville: from $1.2m to $1m
* Miriam Dunningham, Glendowie: from $910,000 to $850,000
* Grant Black, apartment owner: from $120,000 to $60,000
Biggest drops
* Wellsford -19 per cent
* Kawau Island -15 per cent
* Muriwai -15 per cent
* Great Barrier Island -14 per cent
* Algies Bay/Snells Beach -11 per cent
Holiday and coastal areas showing bigger drops.
Biggest rises
* Grey Lynn +18 per cent
* Sandringham +13 per cent
* Point Chevalier +13 per cent
* Ellerslie +10 per cent
* Epsom +10 per cent
General market movement favours inner-city suburbs.
