The impact of ever-increasing utilities, municipal rates and taxes poses a significant risk for both consumers and the real estate sector. On top of the fast-escalating municipal charges - increases of 7.47%, for electricity, 9.75% for water, 9.75% for sanitation and refuse 5% – all of which have escalated faster than the consumer price index (6.5%), there has also been a noticeable deterioration in the quality of municipal services countrywide.