Rates Questions and Answers
How is your rates money spent?
The money that you pay in rates contributes to the funding of public services provided at a district level (the district rate) and at regional level (the regional rate). For more information please use the link below:
I have just moved into a new property and have no bin. How do I obtain one?
Land & Property Services collects rates on behalf of the City and Borough/District Councils but is not responsible for rate funded services. You should contact your local council in connection with your query.
I have received the rate bill for the new rating year. It states that I owe arrears from last year but I have paid the outstanding amount. Can you advise?
The rate bill states that any transactions to your account after certain dates in March are not shown. The rate bills for the incoming year are calculated on this date and therefore any balance still owed will be included in the calculation.
Can I choose what date to pay my direct debit instalment?
Yes. There is now a choice of three collection dates per month, the 7th, 15th or the last banking day of the month. For more information, please use the link below:
When do I get my two free months?
You actually don't get any free months. You pay rates for the whole year, either 365 or 366 days over a ten-month period. If you receive your rate demand at the beginning of April, and you have already set up your chosen method of payment for the year, you will not make payments in February or March. If you receive a rate demand after April your payments will start from either the month during which the demand was issued, or the next month through to the following February.
I still haven't received a rate bill.
You should contact your local LPS rating office as soon as possible. The longer you leave it to receive a demand the less time you will have to pay it over. For example,if you receive a bill in April you have the option to pay over 10 months. If you don't receive it until June, you have only until the end of February to pay (8 months).
Please use the link below to get contact details for your local LPS rating office:
I have arrears for last year. How can I pay these off? Or can I spread these over the 10 monthly instalments in this year?
You should contact your local Land & Property Services office. Staff there will be able to give you advice after checking all your details.
I am a landlord of several properties, but have received a bill for a single property without landlord allowance. Can I have this included on my schedule?
Please contact our landlords team as follows:
- e-mail: landlords@lpsni.gov.uk
- phone: 101
- minicom: 1800 1101
- if you cannot access the 101 number or are calling from outside Northern Ireland you can call on 028 9151 3101
I have received a bill but I only rent this property.
Please see our section on rental properties for more information.
Rental properties for businesses
My bill says that I have a garage but it was demolished.
You must contact your local Land & Property Services (Valuation Services) office.
You have sent my company a rate bill but we are a manufacturing industrial or charitable organisation and do not pay rates. Can you explain?
Please see our Webpage on Industrial De-rating.
I have received a bill but I have applied for Housing Benefit.
It is our policy that you must continue to make payments based on the bill issued. If you are awarded Housing Benefit, it will be credited to your rate account. If, when Housing Benefit has been awarded, you have overpaid, you will be issued a refund. If you still have a remaining balance you will be issued with a revised demand, which will have reduced monthly payments.
I am a pensioner/on benefit/one-parent family/on low wage. Can I get help with my rates?
You may be entitled to some help. Domestic ratepayers who have difficulty paying may be eligible for relief through the Housing Benefit or Rate Relief Schemes. Please refer to our sections on Housing Benefit and Rate Relief.
When should I inform you that I am moving out of my property?
As soon as you move out of the property. Applications for such a refund can be made by contacting the us in writing, by telephone, or by e-mail.
What do the abbreviations mean on my bill?
These letters give the description of your property. If you have any queries you should contact your local Land & Property Services (Valuation Services) office. Below is a list of the most common descriptions and their abbreviations.
G Garden
H House
H (Ag) House held with land
Hotel Hotel
Hotel (Lic) Licensed hotel
L Shop Public house
Shop (Lic) Off licence
O Out office (shed, garage, greenhouse and so on)
Off Office: administrative, commercial, professional
S Denotes more than one
W Workshop
Y Yard
Gd Ground floor
1st First floor
2nd Second floor
Indstrl Industrial
How can I find out more about how Land & Property Services conducts it's business?
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Land & Property Services, in line with all public authorities, has in place a publication scheme which has been approved by the Information Commissioner. The scheme helps customers to gain access to information which we routinely make available. The Publication Scheme contains links to our Corporate and Business Plans and Annual Reports as well as links to commonly used customer information leaflets.
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