My book on the Youbou appeals and what the records show about BC Assessment. Coming soon as a free download.
OverAssessed is the full written account of the Youbou appeals: how a group of waterfront homeowners took on BC Assessment, and what the government's own records showed along the way.
The book is not available yet. When it is released, it will be a free download on this page.
The Book is OverAssessed, the full story of how my Youbou neighbours took on BC Assessment, told in order and checked against the records.
89%
of the Youbou appeals lowered at the Appeal Board, 25 of 28
$15M+
in reductions for the Youbou homeowners, 2023 to 2025 roll years
2,389
pages of records released under freedom of information
$0
the book will be free to download
In 2023, my neighbours on the waterfront in Youbou believed BC Assessment had overassessed them for the third year in a row, and I led their appeals. The Review Panel heard 1 of their 23 complaints before confirming all 23. A year later, the Property Assessment Appeal Board lowered 89% of their appeals.
Along the way, a person inside BC Assessment called to explain how values are really set, and the records I requested under freedom of information showed what was being said about the homeowners behind closed doors. OverAssessed puts all of it in order, from the first town hall meeting to the final decisions, with the records behind every step.
Inside the book
How a group of neighbours organized, filed and kept going from the Review Panel to the Appeal Board, and what it cost them in time and stress.
What happened in the hearing room, what BC Assessment argued in writing and how the Appeal Board weighed the evidence.
The phone call from inside BC Assessment, and what it explained about how values are set and which homes staff actually look at.
What BC Assessment and the Ministry of Finance wrote to each other about the homeowners, released under freedom of information.
Why the Youbou story is not just about Youbou: 2,805 Vancouver Island homes, nearly 40% of those sold in 2025, were assessed above their sale price.
What every BC homeowner can learn from it, and how to check your own value before the deadline.
What the homeowners said
In this clip, Andy Ross explains why he went to freedom of information. Andy was one of the Youbou homeowners, and his words open part of Chapter 9.
Across 4 appeals, his assessments came down $815,500.1
"The only way to really get the correct numbers and answers is actually go to Freedom of Information, right?"
Andy Ross, Youbou
Reduced $815,500 over 4 appeals, saving approximately $4,078 in property tax.
Appeal Nos. 2023-04-00107, 2024-04-00073, 2024-04-00074, 2025-04-00064
What the news reported
Lake Cowichan Gazette, May 22, 2025
Youbou homeowner astounded with huge bill from BC Assessment
"I am not a consultant, business or media outlet." ... "I am an 80-year-old homeowner living with my 82-year-old wife in the same house we built after buying our land for $29,000 in 1978."
Andy Ross, Youbou, quoted in the Lake Cowichan Gazette, May 22, 2025.2
BC Assessment labelled Andy a commercial applicant, and billed him nearly $2,000 to see records about his own appeal. The Ministry of Finance kept a copy of the article. His story, and the records behind it, are in the book.
What the Ministry of Finance said
"I will not be communicating anything about his book to PARP Chairs as I do not want to give him any additional attention or traffic to his web resources."
The Property Assessment Review Panel Administrator, Ministry of Finance, in an email, December 23, 2023, the day after the Cowichan Valley Citizen reported the book. PARP is the Property Assessment Review Panel. Released to me under freedom of information.3
How the book reached government
The person who sent him the article, whose name is withheld, wrote that the book "may end up being quoted by appellants as evidence," and that it was "worthwhile looking for book to view as I am sure it probably has some inaccurate info." The Administrator replied that "People are welcome to bring evidence to Panels and it is up to Panel to determine what is factual and market evidence."3
That is the standard I hold the book to. Every chapter is checked against the Appeal Board decisions and the records released by BC Assessment and the Ministry of Finance, so anyone can test it.
While you wait
The podcast tells the same story episode by episode, and the pages on this site hold the records the book is built on.
Listen to Dock Fight, meet The Youbou Appeal Group, hear what was said on The Recordings and read The BC Assessment Whistleblower Files.
What BC Assessment said
"As the resolution of PAAB appeals is a formalized process, I kindly ask that you reserve additional information until such time that we have your appeals and reach out to you to begin discussions."
BC Assessment's Deputy Assessor, in an email to me, March 31, 2023, in reply to the third of my letters asking to resolve the Youbou appeals early. Released to me under freedom of information.5
"Reserve additional information"? Here is what happened next
The reply came back within approximately an hour. I read it as being told to stop sending evidence. I kept every letter and every reply, because when a process does not keep its own record, someone has to. Chapter 9 of the book is built on those letters.
What the BC Assessment whistleblower said
"It's a problem for property owners because BC Assessment right now with the problems they have right and they have a lot. They don't want to be transparent and show their flaws."
The BC Assessment whistleblower, recorded telephone call, May 2023.7
"Not transparent"? Here is what it took to get the records
23
freedom of information requests I filed
2,389
pages of records released
$11,047.06
in fees BC Assessment estimated to release them
24%
of BC Assessment's records in one release withheld in full, 62 of 2638
The book puts what he told me next to what the records say, so you can see where they line up. More of what he said is on The BC Assessment Whistleblower Files.
Common questions
It is coming soon. When it is released, it will be available to download on this page.
Yes. OverAssessed will be a free download.
Yes. It is my account of the Youbou appeals, checked against the Appeal Board decisions and the records released by BC Assessment and the Ministry of Finance. Where something is my view, I say so.
The book is the full written account with the records behind it. The Dock Fight podcast tells the same story episode by episode, in my own voice.
A note on the record
The book covers what happened under the previous government. It is offered to the new government as a record, not a complaint.
What a new government could do: Read the record before setting policy, and brief the new Minister with complete, current numbers.
Start with your address and see how your BC Assessment compares to what homes like yours actually sold for.
Check My PropertyStart with your address and see how your BC Assessment compares to what homes like yours actually sold for.
Check My PropertyMy Record: January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2026
$22.6M+
cut from the values BC Assessment put on homeowners' properties
My 3 largest reductions for a homeowner: $2,063,000, $1,954,000 and $1,438,000
$110K+
in estimated property tax refunds and credits for homeowners
My 3 largest estimated refunds or credits for a homeowner: $10,315, $9,770 and $7,190
40
homeowners I helped appeal their BC Assessment
100% won a reduction. The average homeowner had approximately $566,000 taken off their value and an estimated $2,800 back in property tax.
63
appeals won, out of the 65 those homeowners took to a decision
97% won, at BC Assessment, the Review Panel and the Appeal Board
91%
of written Appeal Board decisions, made by an independent adjudicator, lowered the value
30 of the 33 that went that far
7,079
Vancouver Island home sales I checked against their BC Assessment
Less than 1% were assessed at what they sold for, and 40% were assessed above it
32
news stories about the appeals I helped with
Run more than 400 times in 68 news outlets across BC
23
freedom of information requests to BC Assessment for its records
$11,047.06 in fees BC Assessment estimated to release them. I paid $30 in total, after fee waiver requests on public interest and hardship grounds.
Are You Overassessed?
When BC Assessment gets your home's value wrong, I prove what it is actually worth using real sales of similar homes, so you don't pay more property tax than your fair share.
Jason Anson
I am not a lawyer or an appraiser, and nothing on this site should be considered legal or tax advice. When I help you, you are still the appellant and you file your own appeal. Every result depends on the evidence for that property, and the decision belongs to the Property Assessment Review Panel or the Property Assessment Appeal Board, not to me. My past results do not predict yours, and I cannot guarantee any outcome.
Helping homeowners with property assessment appeals is not a licensed activity in the province of British Columbia. It is not regulated by the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) or the Real Estate Services Act, and it is not considered a real estate service.
I am also a licensed real estate agent with eXp Realty. That work gives me my experience in valuation and market movement, which is the evidence of market value the Review Panel and the Appeal Board weigh. This site and my appeal work are completely separate from eXp Realty. They are not affiliated with, endorsed by or provided through my brokerage, and the views here are my own, not eXp Realty's.
What I write about BC Assessment, the Property Assessment Review Panel, the Property Assessment Appeal Board, the Minister and Ministry of Finance, and the other public offices on this site is my own opinion, and I consider it fair comment on a matter of public interest. My opinions are my honest views, marked as my view, and based on facts anyone can check: Appeal Board decisions, public records and records released under freedom of information. Quotes from documents and news stories are the words of the people quoted. If anything here is inaccurate, let me know and I will correct it.
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