Domestic rates in Northern Ireland
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Domestic rates are the local government taxation in Northern Ireland. Rates are a tax on property. Domestic rates consist of two components, a regional rate set by the Northern Ireland Assembly and a district rate set by local councils. Rate levels are set annually. Valuation and rating of property is handled by Land and Property Services. Domestic rates are unique to Northern Ireland, in the rest of the United Kingdom the local taxation is Council Tax.
Valuation
Land and Property Services is the authority responsible for registering and valuing property. The domestic rates are based on the capital value of the residential property on 1 January 2005.[1] This is in contrast to non-domestic rates on businesses which are based on rental value.
District rate
The district rate is set by local authorities, the eleven district councils. It is for services such as refuse collections and disposal, leisure, parks and street cleaning.
District rates in 2015/2016 range from 0.006764 set by Lisburn and Castlereagh District Council to 0.008374 set by Derry and Strabane District Council.[2]
Regional rate
The regional rate is set by the Northern Ireland Assembly. It is used for services such as education, health and roads.
Housing Benefit
In Northern Ireland a rebate scheme existed for domestic rates. Confusingly, this was named Housing Benefit, despite another Housing Benefit also existing to assist with rent payments.
Administration of Housing Benefit was split between two organisations depending on whether the claimant was renting or was an owner-occupier; tenants could claim both kinds of Housing Benefit, while owner-occupiers could only get Housing Benefit for rates.
- Tenants had to apply to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive regardless of whether they rented from a private landlord, from the NIHE itself, or from a housing association.[3]
- Owner-occupiers had to apply to the Land and Property Services agency.[4]
References
- ^ http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/rates
- ^ "Domestic rate poundages 2015 to 2016". nidirect. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
- ^ < "An introduction to Housing Benefit". Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ^ < "A Guide to Rates: Housing Benefit and Rate Relief". Land & Property Services. Retrieved 15 September 2012.