Coronavirus (Covid-19) and rate bills

Due to coronavirus, rate bills were issued in June 2020 instead of April 2020, when people usually get their rates bills. This was to help avoid placing financial pressure on ratepayers. The domestic regional rate has also been frozen for 2020-21.

Most Land and Property Services (LPS) services and phone helplines are available.
Customer Information Centres will remain closed until further notice. You can email rating@lpsni.gov.uk (for queries about your rate bill), valuation@lpsni.gov.uk (for property valuation queries) or CustomerInformation.LandRegistration@finance-ni.gov.uk (for land registry queries).
The Ordnance Survey helpline remains closed, however you can email Mapping.Helpdesk@finance-ni.gov.uk for mapping queries.  You can keep up to date with available services at the Department of Finance website.

2020-21 rate bills

Rate bills will assess rates due from 1 April 2020 until 31 March 2021.  Domestic ratepayers can choose to pay their bill in monthly instalments between June 2020 and March 2021.

There is no rate holiday for domestic customers however the domestic regional rate has been frozen for the year 2020-21.

This means the cost of the regional rate for domestic customers will be no higher for 2020-21 than in 2019-20, however the cost of the district rate will change based on the district rate set by your District Council.

Recovery action on debt and arrears

Ratepayers are legally responsible for paying their rate bill, and rates debt still needs to be paid. The ways in which Land & Property Services (LPS) recover unpaid rates are under constant review.

You should pay off rates debt as soon as possible, so you can avoid going to court later which could lead to more costs. If you’re having difficulty paying your bill, get in touch with LPS to let them know your circumstances so a solution can be found and agreed.

Help with rates

There are a wide range of rate support schemes in place to help people pay their rates. Over 25 per cent of households in Northern Ireland get some kind of support, with the majority of these paying no rates at all.

These schemes include:

  • Housing Benefit for rates, which is for people on not eligible to apply for Universal Credit, such as those receiving a Severe Disability Premium, living in supported accommodation or have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit
  • Low Income Rate Relief, which supplements Housing Benefit
  • The Rate Rebate Scheme for those on Universal Credit.  People who are not working or whose income drops because of the COVID-19 crisis may be eligible for this scheme. 
  • Lone Pensioner Allowance
  • Disabled Person’s Allowance
  • Help with rates

The Make the Call service can also provide comprehensive advice on the benefits, reliefs and supports that are available in Northern Ireland.

They can be contacted on freephone 0800 232 1271 or at this link:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

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For queries or advice about rates, email:
rating@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about property valuation, email:
valuation@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about land registry, email:
CustomerInformation.LandRegistration@finance-ni.gov.uk

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Mapping.Helpdesk@finance-ni.gov.uk

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