Rates Deferment Scheme

The Rates Deferment Scheme aims to provide pensioners who own and occupy their home a payment choice for rates.

How do you qualify for the Rates Deferment scheme?

Pensioners may be able to postpone paying their rates until their death, until the property is sold or transferred or until the agreement with Land & Property Services (LPS) is broken. The debt is secured against the property and any outstanding rates will have to be paid back with interest.

Who can apply to defer rates?

You can apply for the scheme if you:

are or 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

If your rate account is in arrears, you will not normally be able to defer rates on your property.

Your partner can apply jointly with you if they own and occupy the same property as their sole or main residence. If more than one person owns your home, all will have to apply and meet the scheme's requirements.

For full details of the scheme, please use the links below:

How to apply

Please note that the cut off date for applications for rates deferment for each rating year is 31 December. Applications received after this date will be processed, but deferment will only apply to rates that are due from the following April. Applicants must therefore pay rates that are due until 31 March 2011 in full.

If the rate account falls into arrears, we will be unable to defer any rates for the following year.

If you wish to apply for the Rates Deferment scheme you should apply to LPS. You can download an application form or contact LPS and request a form.

You can use the link below to download an application form:

Contact details for LPS are as follows: