What happens if you can't pay your rates

Before you contact LPS

List all the income you have and include:

• take home pay you and your partner receive
• any benefits you and your partner receive
• any money from other people who live with you
• regular income such as a work pension or maintenance

List where your money goes. Your rent or mortgage, rates and home heating bills are the most important debts. These take priority over debts such as credit cards, catalogues and loans.

Payment agreement

Using these lists, you will see how much money you have. This will help LPS come to a rates payment agreement with you.

Customer Information Centres will remain closed to the public until further notice, in an effort to limit the spread of Covid-19 however you can still contact LPS by phone and email.

To contact LPS:

• phone: 0300 200 7801 
• text relay: 18001 0300 200 7801

Alternatively, you can contact any LPS rating office. 

• Land & Property Services - Rating district offices

Help with your rates

There are reliefs and entitlements available to help some ratepayers pay their rates bills.

• Help paying your rates

Get free debt and benefits advice

You can get information on handling money, dealing with debt and benefits you may be entitled to:

• Housing Rights 
• Step Change Debt Charity
• Law Centre NI Belfast office
• Law Centre NI Western area office
• Advice NI
• Benefit Enquiry Line

If you don't pay your rates

If you don't pay your rates bill or contact LPS to make an arrangement to pay your bill, LPS will take you to court.

• What happens if you don't pay your rates