Local government rates are a contribution each property owner makes towards the cost of providing facilities and services in their local community.
Anyone owning residential, rural, vacant, industrial or commercial property in the City of Rockingham is a ratepayer. Some government bodies, educational and registered charitable organisations are exempt from paying rates.
Rates are used to build and maintain the City’s beaches, roads, parks, gardens, sporting facilities and to operate a multitude of community services.
Rates make up the majority of our income and are essential to its ability to provide services to the community.
The rate year is 1 July to 30 June, the same as the City's financial year.
Rate notices can be issued any time after 1 July. Typically it will occur in the first few weeks of the new financial year. You can register for eRates to have your annual and instalment notices emailed to you.
How much you pay depends on the value of your property. This value is determined by the State Government’s Landgate (formerly Valuer General’s Office [VGO]) in one of two ways, depending on the type of property you own:
For properties that are predominately used for rural purposes, the Unimproved Value (UV) of the land is used. This is an estimate of the value of the land of the property assuming no improvement on the land.
For properties that are predominately used for non-rural purposes, such as residential, industrial and business, the Gross Rental Value (GRV) is used. This is the estimate of the total rent that may be received from the property in one year. For more information on GRV and UV, visit the Landgate websiteopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new window.
This value is then multiplied by the City's rate-in-the-dollar to determine your property’s annual rates.
For example:
GRV of $250 per week x 52 weeks = $13,000
$13,000 x rate-in-the-dollar = Rates total.
The City’s rate-in-the-dollar is determined each year at budget time. Rates-in-the-dollar may vary for different categories of UV or GRV properties. This is called a Differential Rating System.
Each year a minimum rate applies which is the minimum amount any property owner will be asked to contribute. This ensures a fair contribution is made by all property owners, regardless of their property’s value.
If your property use changes, you can apply to the City of Rockingham to have it reassessed by completing a Land Use Declaration Form. Please refer to the Rating Review Frequently Asked Questions document below.
The video below produced by Landgate explains the relationship between property valuations and local government rates.
Video
What is GRV and how does it affect my rates?
Learn how a GRV is determined and what it is used for.
The video below produced with the WA Local Government Association explains the relationship between property prices and local government rates.
Video
Your Rates and the Property Market
Local government rates are not directly linked to property prices.
A separate charge is levied for your property’s rubbish service for the year. This fee covers a:
140-litre waste bin, collected weekly
360-litre recycling bin, collected fortnightly
240-litre green waste bin, collected on the alternative fortnight to recycling
An annual swimming pool inspection fee may appear on your notice if you have a swimming pool or spa. This covers the cost of a compulsory pool fence inspection every four years at your property.
In addition to the above, all local governments since 2003/2004 are required to collect the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
The ESL funds Western Australia's fire and emergency services, including all career fire stations, volunteer fire brigades, State Emergency Service (SES) units and the multi-purpose volunteer emergency service units.
All local governments since 2003/2004 are required to collect the ESL for Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
For more information about the ESL, call DFES on 1300 657 209 or visit the DFES websiteopens in a new windowopens in a new windowopens in a new window.
Rates Smoothing is a flexible payment arrangement that enables you to pay your rates off in equal weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments. Visit the payment options page for full details of this simple approach to paying your rates.
If you have changed ownership of a property or moved house please contact us within 21 days to complete a change of name/address or change of ownership form.
Keeping our records up to date means we can ensure rate notices are forwarded to the correct address and avoids customers incurring any unwanted penalties including interest on overdue rates.
This is done by your settlement agent at settlement who will apportion the rates accordingly between the buyer and seller.
If there is a change which affects the amount of rates owing on a property, the owner will be sent an Interim Rates Account. The most common reasons why Interim Rates Accounts are sent are:
- a new property/subdivision (i.e. vacant land)
- a new house/building completed
- waste/rubbish service charge
- demolition of a building
- additions/extensions to a house/building
For more information, read the Interim Rates Account Explained brochure.
If you are experiencing difficulties in paying your rates, please contact us on customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au or call us on 9528 0333.
The City has also adopted a Financial Hardship Policy for residential and small business ratepayers. Visit the payment options page for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
Please contact us with any questions or queries about your rates.