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It is now possible to get help to pay your rate bill without having to apply. Changes in the way rates are calculated mean more people will get this rate relief.
You will obtain rate relief automatically if you fall into one of the following two categories. If you do not qualify for automatic rate relief you can still apply for other ways to help pay.
Under the new rating system, some rate bills may have risen by a significant amount in a short space of time. To help you with this rise, Land and Property Services have introduced the following new automatic rate reliefs to make the change easier to cope with.
Maximum rate payment cap
If the capital value of your home is more than £500,000, your rate bill will be assessed at £500,000 and no more. Homes with a capital value higher than this will all be assessed at this figure. You do not have to do anything to get this rate relief. Land and Property Services set the capital value of your home and will give you this discount automatically on your next bill.
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Transitional relief
If your new capital value bill has increased by more than 33% above the amount you would have paid in rates for the current rating year under the NAV system, the Land and Property Services will provide Transitional Relief automatically over a three-year period from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2010.
- In the first year, the Land and Property Services will provide Transitional Relief on the full amount (100%) over the 33% threshold
- In the second year, the relief will be provided on two-thirds (66.6666%) of the amount over the 33% threshold
- In the third year, the relief will be provided on one-third (33.3333%) of the amount over the 33% threshold
From 1 April 2010, ratepayers will have to pay the full amount of rates.
For more information and examples of transitional rate relief, please read these pages on Land and Property Services' website.
You do not need to apply for this discount - it will happen automatically and will be printed on your rates bill.
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