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  2. Property and housing
  3. A guide to rates
  4. Your rate bill
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When you think your rates bill is too high

Your rates bill is calculated by multiplying the capital valuation of your property by the rate in the pound for your local council area. If you think your rates bill is too high, you can ask Land & Property Services (LPS) to review your property's valuation.

Check your capital valuation

To check the capital valuation of individual properties, go to 'Valuation of domestic properties for rates' page. If you think your property's valuation is incorrect, you can apply online to have the valuation reviewed. 

  • Valuation of domestic properties for rates

Following a review, a valuation can go up or down.  LPS can take three months or more to review a valuation. You must continue to pay your rates bill while LPS assesses your review. If your valuation is reduced, LPS will refund the amount you have overpaid or credit the amount due to your rates bill.

Help paying your rates bill

There  are reliefs and entitlements available to some ratepayers to help with rates bills, including:

  • Housing Benefit and Rate Relief
  • Rate Rebate
  • Lone Pensioner Allowance
  • Disabled Person’s Allowance
     
  • Help  paying your rates

If you apply for help, you must continue to pay your rates bill while LPS assesses your application. If your application is successful, LPS will refund the amount you overpaid or credit the amount due to your rate account.

  • Getting a rates refund

Having difficulty paying your rates

Payment of rates is a legal obligation. If you find it difficult to pay your rates bill, contact LPS to discuss a suitable payment agreement. 

  • What happens if you can’t pay your rates

Property prices

The rise and fall of property prices doesn't affect the rates bill you pay. Your domestic rates are calculated on the individual rateable value of your property on 1 January 2005.

More useful links

  • Rating of empty homes
  • Housing Benefit and Rate Relief
  • Rate Rebate Scheme for people on Universal Credit
  • Lone Pensioner Allowance
  • Disabled Person's Allowance
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Your rate bill

  • Complaining to Land & Property Services
  • Domestic rate poundages
  • Getting a rates refund
  • How rate bills are calculated
  • Introducing your rate bill
  • Make changes online to a landlord rate account
  • Make changes to your rate account
  • Occupying and leaving a property
  • Properties you pay rates on
  • Rating of empty homes
  • Request a copy of your rate bill
  • Sign up for rates
  • What happens if you can't pay your rates
  • What happens if you don't pay your rates
  • What rates pay for
  • When a ratepayer has died
  • When you think your rates bill is too high

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Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

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.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

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Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

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If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

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Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

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    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
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    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

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

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