Domestic Rates

belfastgirl23

This might be a stupid question but I can't find any info on the RCA website.

Do single person households in NI pay the same amount of rates as other households? I read somewhere about a 25% reduction for single people but maybe this doesn't apply here.

thanks for any help

Golden_Anemone

Hi Belfastgirl23

Not a stupid question at all. In England and Wales there is a 25% reduction for single householders on their council taxes. There is no reduction in NI. During the consultation on the recent changes to the rating system many people asked for this and the response is that the rates system is different to the council tax system so a discount is not appropriate and would lead to potentially less well off couples subsidising well off singletons!

I still think it says an awflul lot about our politicians that they agreed to an automatic cap on the value of homes regardless of income and refused an automatic reduction for single householders regardless of income!!! I have to wonder how many of them benefitted from the cap - as it seems to be one of the few things they aren't able to claim on expenses anyway!

Lots of information on the consultation exercise on the DFP internet if you follow the links for rating reform.

cheqmate06

The problem with a single occupancy reduction in Domestic rates is actually being able to monitor it. Northern Ireland have far less powers to obtain this kind on information compared to their counterparts in England etc.

Dunwunderin

Hi,
my pensioner sister gets a 20% reduction in her rates due to single occupancy!

wifeforlife

Dunwunderin wrote: »

Hi,
my pensioner sister gets a 20% reduction in her rates due to single occupancy!

She must be over 70 years of age and living alone, that was brought in April 2008. Not a large uptake, but about time ministers started doing something for our elderly

Cate

belfastgirl23

Dunwunderin wrote: »

Hi,
my pensioner sister gets a 20% reduction in her rates due to single occupancy!

Got a bit to go before that applies

cooki2222

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/property-and-housing/rates/financial-help_with_your_rates.htm

lots of info there for ya Belfast Girl.

Housing Benefit is a benefit to help people on a low income pay their rates.
You should apply if:

• you have savings of less than £16,000; and
• are on low income or wage; or
• you are claiming either Income Support, income-based Job Seeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance (Income Related) or Pension Credit.

Home owners should contact Land & Property Services (LPS) to apply on 0845 300 6360.

Could also try housing executive

belfastgirl23

Thanks everyone, I know for sure I wouldn't be entitled to any relief on them, it's just that I'm trying to figure out the finances for DH working overseas for a bit of next year...he will probably have to pay rates where he is so I was trying to see whether we could shave off some of our rates from here because I will be a one person household. Apparently not :rolleyes:

Very helpful info though, thanks

baldeagle09

Perhaps if LPS were even remotely competent at collecting rates outstanding then each bill would decrease.:rolleyes:


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7880207.stm


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8172685.stm

wifeforlife

baldeagle09 wrote: »

Perhaps if LPS were even remotely competent at collecting rates outstanding then each bill would decrease.:rolleyes:


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7880207.stm


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8172685.stm

They collected £940 million - and had a record number of people through the court system

Maybe if the Northern Ireland public paid their bills without trying to shy away from their public duty LPS staff wouldn't have to try to enforce them :rolleyes:

How do you get blood out of a stone

Cate

agal

Will the rates go down when we start paying water charges?
I was working out my charges from http://www.niwater.com/siteFiles/resources/pdf/Scheme%20of%20Charges%2009.PDF
and for a capital value house of £170000 the water charge would be £269.14. If I was connected to the mains sewer there would be an additional charge of £333.23 for sewerage - so £602.37 in total.
It will come as a nasty surprise to many people when they begin sending out the bills - next year?