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Rate bills webchat

nidirect teamed up with Land & Property Services (LPS) to hold a one-hour webchat on 21 April 2011 to answer your questions about rate bills. Questions and answers from the online session are available below.

Webchat transcript

Welcome to nidirect's webchat about rate bills. LPS will answer your questions.

Question: Come October will we have to pay rates on a property that is unoccupied and will be unoccupied until such times we are able to move in? There is a huge crack on the gable wall, therefore for Health and Safety reasons we cannot move in as it is inhabitable. The house will have to be levelled (in the future) and rebuilt. My husband has just inherited this property, but at the moment the property is really only a liability to us.

LPS: From 1 October 2011 rates will be payable on all empty homes. Rate bills will issue to owners of these properties from that date. However, a number of properties will be excluded from the rating of empty homes and one of the exclusion categories is where the empty home cannot be legally occupied. Generally you will have to apply for an exclusion and provide the necessary evidence.

The Rating of Empty Homes fact sheet contains a list of exclusions and can be found at the link below:

An application form to apply for an exclusion will be available from 1 October 2011 on the nidirect website or by telephoning Land & Property Services on 101 (028 9151 3101).

If a property is uninhabitable and has to be demolished, an application should be made to Land & Property Services Valuation. This application can be downloaded below or you can call Land & Property Services to request one on 101 (028 9151 3101).

  • Application to District Valuer for revision of the Valuation List form (PDF 645KB)
  • Help with PDF files

Question: Can I defer my rates and have the money taken out of the sale of my house when I die? I need the money now and would like to leave it for again - I have no mortgage.

LPS: The Rates Deferment Scheme may allow you to do this. Under this scheme pensioners may be able to postpone paying their rates until their death or until their property is sold or transferred. The debt is secured against the property and any outstanding rates will have to be paid back with interest.

You can apply for the scheme if you are of pensionable age or over on 1 April in the year that you apply; own your own home and occupy it as your sole or main residence; have sufficient equity in your home (at least 40 per cent) - this is the value which is not subject to a mortgage or charge; have a capital value on your property of £50,000 or more.

Further information about this scheme including an application form can be found at the link below or you can call Land & Property Services to request a form on 101 (028 9151 3101).

  • Rates deferment scheme (property and housing section)

Why do the rates bills not reflect the fall in the value of my house?

LPS: Your rate bill is not actually based on the current market value of your property. Your rates are calculated on the rateable capital value of your property on a fixed date, currently 1 January 2005.

This means the general rise that occurred after 2005 or the fall now in property prices does not affect the amount of rates you pay. If values were to be revised, and if values in general had fallen from 2005, the tax rate (rate in the pound) would have to increase to raise the same amount in rates.

More information can be found at the following link:

Question: What's in it for me if I pay by Direct Debit? I get a reduction in my electricity and gas when I pay by direct debit, so why not rates?

LPS: Direct Debit is easy to set up, can help you to spread the cost of your rate bill, gives you a choice of three available Direct Debit collection dates each month and will continue each year, without further action from you, once it has been set up for your rate account.

You can choose to pay your bill in one full payment (qualifying for an early payment discount of four per cent on occupied domestic properties if received by LPS by 6 May 2011) or by instalments.

To find out more about paying your rates by Direct Debit, see the following page:

Question: How many properties did you not collect rates for last year? What happened to these people?

LPS: In 2010/11 Land & Property Services had more than 18,000 court decrees awarded against ratepayers who defaulted on their payments. Land & Property Services continue to clamp down on those ratepayers who refuse to pay by taking them to court.

Question: Why can I not pay my bill on this nidirect website? Having to use a particular bank and pay extra for it is crazy!

LPS: Land & Property Services are always looking at ways to improve payment methods and all customer feedback is taken onboard. To have online payment services would mean additional set up costs. Land & Property Services has chosen not to pay the additional costs to do this at present.

Customers can use the Santander billpay service to pay online using a debit or credit card. There is no charge to customers for using a debit card, however credit cards incur a handling fee. This fee is two per cent of the total being paid. This fee is charged by credit card companies. The fee is collected by Santander at the point of payment and paid directly to the credit card companies. Land & Property Services does not collect this money.

For more information on the various ways that you can pay your rates please view the following page:

Question: Why should I pay my rates when you don’t clear my road in the winter?

LPS: Rates are a property tax. The income from rates provides funding towards a wide range of district and regional services such as roads, water, education, street lighting, for the benefit of all households across Northern Ireland. If you do not pay your rate bill and do not contact LPS, they will take you to court.

More information can be found at the following page:

Question: Is it true that if you don't pay your rates that you don’t have to pay retrospectively?

LPS: This is not true. Your rate bill will show the amount owed for the billing period 2011/12 as well as any debt carried forward from previous years. This means you will have to pay any backdated rates you owe. Payment of rates is a legal obligation. Therefore, if you do not pay your rate bill and do not contact LPS, they will take you to court.

Question: Who is obliged to pay the rates on a property - the landlord or the tenant?

LPS: There are specific rules governing the rating of rental properties. In many cases, though not all, the landlord is legally responsible for paying the rate bill and therefore needs to collect an amount from the tenant (as part of their rent) to cover the rate liability.

Question: I have a small furniture-making business which I operate from at nights at my house. Do I have to pay any additional non-domestic rates?

LPS: If part of your property has been built or adapted for use exclusively for business purposes, then that part may be liable to be valued for non-domestic rates. If you make any alterations to your property, including change of use, you must let Land & Property Services know, as this can affect your rate bill.

You should complete and return the Application to District Valuer for revision of the Valuation List form which can be downloaded below or you can call Land & Property Services on 101 (028 9151 3101).

  • Application to District Valuer for revision of the Valuation List form (PDF 645KB)
  • Help with PDF files

Question: The property I rent out is empty. Do I have to pay rates on it?

LPS: Currently empty domestic properties are exempt from rates. Empty means unoccupied and cleared of furniture. From 1 October 2011 rates will be payable on all empty homes. Rate bills will issue to owners of these properties from that date.

Question: I was self employed but have not been working for a few months - do I get any help with my rates as I don't get any other benefits?

LPS: To help people on a low income pay their rate bill, there are two key forms of help available: Housing Benefit and Rate Relief. You may be entitled to claim these if you are affected by or claiming: low wage or income; redundancy; reduced income; Income support; Jobseekers allowance; Employment and Support Allowance; Pension Credit.

For more information on these schemes and to find out if you are eligible please use the links below to the Housing Benefit and Rate Relief sections. Alternatively telephone Land & Property Services on 101 (028 9151 3101).

Question: You have recorded that my property has an outbuilding, but it has been demolished since last year - will I get a reduction in rates for this year?

LPS: If you alter your property you must contact Land & Property Services immediately, as this can affect your rate bill. To do this, complete and return the relevant application form which can be downloaded below or by call Land & Property Services on 101 (028 9151 3101).

  • Application to District Valuer for revision of the Valuation List form (PDF 645KB)
  • Help with PDF files

If a reduction is warranted, it will take effect from 1 April in the year in which the revised capital value certificate is issued, or from the date of demolition, whichever date is later.

Question: Why is the discount date so soon? Why could it not be later in the year to give me a chance to save up?

LPS: The discount is provided for early payment of a rates bill, providing a four per cent discount to those who pay their rates bill in a single payment before a certain date, usually early May.

To set the date later in the year would run against the purpose of the provision, which is to encourage people to pay their rates bill at the start of the rating year.

Question: Does the size of your garden affect your rates?

LPS: Generally not. The exception would be if your garden is significantly larger than the standard associated with your house type in your area. Any enhanced value will reflect existing use as garden and will ignore development potential.

Question: My father is elderly and is now in a care home. Is he entitled to rate relief on his house as there is no one living in it?

LPS: Yes, you can apply for a discretionary vacancy, which would entitle your father to a temporary vacancy. This means he would not need to pay rates for the period of six months to end no later than 30 September 2011 (due to the introduction of the rating of empty homes).

To benefit from the temporary vacancy, a written application must be made and provide sufficient evidence from an independent third party (such as a care home). Your father would also have to be in care for a period of more than three months to qualify. The supporting evidence should be on the institution’s headed paper, confirm the expected period of stay and be signed by someone involved in the administration or delivery of care to your father.

The property does not need to be unfurnished to claim a discretionary vacancy, but once the six month period is up, the property would be liable for full rates if it was still furnished.

Further information about applying for a vacancy including the relevant application can be found at:

From 1 October 2011 rates will be payable on all empty homes. Rate bills will issue to owners of these properties from that date. At this time it will be possible to apply for an exclusion on the payment of rates based on the fact that your father is in a nursing home. Full details are available from:

The webchat session is now closed. Thank you for your participation.