Rates FAQs

What are local government rates and who pays them?

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, commercial property, a mining tenement or leased crown land including local government property in the Shire of Nannup is a ratepayer. Some government bodies, educational and registered charitable organisations are exempt from paying rates.

Everyone benefits directly or indirectly through the services provided across the district which contribute significantly to the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of a community.

What do my rates pay for?

Annual rates ensure the continuation of quality services throughout the Shire of Nannup now and into the future.  These services are broad and include:

• The provision of well maintained public open space – parks, playgrounds, foreshores, reserves, sporting ovals
• The provision of community facilities like the Nannup Sport & Recreation Centre, Community Meeting Room, Town Hall, Nannup Library, and the Old Kindy Building
• The construction and maintenance of roads, footpaths, cycleways, car parks and supporting infrastructure such as drainage, street lighting and signage
• The provision of waste services
• Services to support the planned and orderly development of the district including regulatory services like rangers
• Funding for future capital investment

Further information about local government services can be found on the WALGA website.

Why do I pay rates when I don't use any Council facilities?

Every ratepayer uses one or more facilities provided by Council. The moment you drive out of your property onto a road you are using a Council facility. If you live outside of the Shire and have a rental property, then your tenant uses Council's facilities.

What do I need to do if my property's use has changed?

The Shire calculates a property's rates based on their Differential Rating Category (DRC).

A DRC is based on the property’s actual and possible use, zoning and / or whether it is vacant land (or other characteristic set out in regulations).

If a property’s use changes then it is the responsibility of the property owner(s) to notify the Shire in writing on or before 30 June of a financial year of its new use using the Statutory Declaration Form below.

Where a change in DRC is required, then this will be from 1 July of the NEXT financial year as it is not possible under the Local Government Act to apply a new DRC within the current financial year.

The only exception to this is where a change in DRC results in a variation to a property’s Gross Rental or Unimproved Valuation. 

Statutory Declaration Form

How do I object to my rates?

An objection may be lodged where there is an error in the rate record with respect to:

• the identity of the owner or occupier of any land; or
• on the basis that the land or part of the land is not rateable

An objection to the rate record must be made in writing and lodged with the Shire within 42 days of the date of issue of an annual or interim (not instalment) rate notice. This objection must identify the relevant land and set out fully in detail the grounds of the objection.

NOTE: All rate payments are required to be paid by their due date, irrespective of whether an objection or appeal has been lodged.

Why is my increase more than the advertised average rate increase?

There may be properties where the annual rate assessment has increased more than the average annual rate increase. This is because the increase is an average across ALL rateable properties within the differential rating category which will mean some properties will have a lower or higher average rate increase.

Also this could be because some properties will have had a change in Unimproved Valuations (UV), which are revalued annually, or Gross Rental Valuations (GRV) for the property, which are revalued every 5 years, or a change in your property's value due to an interim rating event, e.g. due to a renovation connected to a building application. 

The effect of the revaluations is that individual property values do not move uniformly. Some values may not change or may even reduce. Others can increase and in some cases increase significantly.

Please refer to Valuation - FAQ's below for more information on valuations.

Why are interim rates raised?

The Shire may be required to issue interim rates during the course of a financial year for various reasons.

Some of these reasons are because of a building completion, alteration, addition or demolition, and/or a variation to land due to amalgamation or subdivision/strata titling, an error in valuation or rating of a property, or subsequent revaluation of the property.

In accordance with Section 6.39 of the Local Government Act 1995, the Shire may amend the rate record for the current and/or five preceding financial year(s).

When will I receive my rate notice?

Your annual rate notice will be issued around late August/early September each year. If you do not receive your rate notice then please send an email to nannup@nannup.wa.gov.au or call (08) 9756 1018. Please provide the following details:

• Full name
• Contact details
• Property address
• Postal address

How do I obtain a copy of my rate notice?

You can get another copy of your rate notice, at no additional cost, by contacting the Shire’s Rates Officer on (08) 9756 1018.

Your rate notice is an important document and may be required by financial institutions as proof of ownership of the land. Please keep your notice and corresponding receipts in a safe place, to save the inconvenience of requesting an additional copy.

What happens if I change my address?

It is a property owner's responsibility to inform the Shire in writing of any change in postal address. This change of address may be made by completing the online Change of Address Form.

Alternatively the change of address form may be downloaded using the below link and e-mailed, posted or delivered to the Shire once completed.

Change of Address Form

I forgot to change my address. Do I still have to pay interest for a late payment?

Yes.

There is a statutory obligation for owners to ensure that the Shire has the correct address for service of notices. Ratepayers are asked to advise the Shire in writing when their contact details change. We would also appreciate dog and cat owners advising us when they move to another Shire or to a different address within the Shire.

What is the overdue interest rate and how is it calculated

Overdue interest will accrue daily at 11.00%pa, calculated on a daily simple interest basis, on rating arrears, overdue balances and unpaid instalments until fully cleared.

Overdue interest will accrue daily at 11.00%pa, calculated on a daily simple interest basis, on all Emergency Services Levy arrears and overdue balances.

If interest is accruing then a pay out amount should be obtained prior to making any payment. Interest accrued may be cleared in preference to overdue and arrears rating balances from any rate payments received. Overdue interest will not accrue if the property owner is eligible and registered for a full State Government rebate or deferral.

What if I am having difficulty paying my rates?

If you are unable to pay your rates due to financial hardship, please contact the Shire's Rates Officer as soon as possible to discuss your options.

What is Gross Rental Value (GRV)?

The gross rental value (GRV) is the total annual rent a property might reasonably be expected to earn each year if it was rented out. This includes associated rates, taxes, charges, insurances, and other outgoings. For non-residential properties, GST is also included.

The GRV is determined by the Valuer-General for all rateable and leviable properties in Western Australia. Landgate provides these figures to rating authorities who use it to work out the rates, service charges, and levies that property owners must pay.

These rating authorities include:

• local councils for rates
• water providers (e.g. Water Corporation WA) for water and sewerage rates
• the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) for the emergency services levy, which is included on your council rates.

Please see the video at the following link for more information about GRV. 

Gross Rental Value (GRV) Video

What happens to my GRV when improvements or changes are made to my property?

The Shire or the Water Corporation will advise Landgate of any additions, improvements or demolitions, subdivisions, or amalgamations that have been actioned on your property.

Landgate valuers will review rental evidence as at the latest date of valuation and update the GRV. This will reflect the changes that have been made to your property as if they were in place as at the latest date of valuation.

The new GRV will be provided to the rating authorities including the Shire, who will recalculate your rates and taxes for the remaining period in the current financial year. A rates or taxes interim notice will then be issued by the rating authority to advise you of any additional charges or if a refund is due to you.

What is an Unimproved Value (UV)?

Unimproved value (UV) is the value of the land only. For land within the metropolitan area and within regional townsites the UV includes merged improvements such as drainage, levelling, and filling.

Land outside the metropolitan area or regional townsites (in general, rural land) is valued in its original natural state having regard for sales evidence as at the date of valuation. The unimproved value (UV) may consider degradation of the land and any services or amenities that may add value.

1. The first assumes the property is to be valued in its original ‘bush’ state without improvements.
2. The second generally applies to larger cropping and grazing properties, which are valued on the basis of 50% of their cleared overall value inclusive of clearing, fencing, pastures and waters, but excluding buildings. The 50% representing the current prescribed percentage set by Valuation of Land Amendment Regulations 2009.

There are certain exceptions where the UV is based on a statutory formula, such as a fixed rate per hectare or a multiple of the annual rent. These exceptions include mining tenements, leases of Crown Land under the Land Administration Act 1997 for the purpose of grazing, leases under agreement acts, and land held under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984.

Please see the video at the following link for more information about UV. 

Unimproved Value (UV) Video

What improvements are considered when a UV is calculated?

UV reflects what the land would be expected to sell for in its current condition. For land within the metropolitan area and regional townsites, the UV includes any work undertaken, or materials used, to improve the physical nature of the land to prepare it for development.

What is considered?

• Clearing vegetation on the land.
• Picking up and removing stones.
• Works to manage or remedy contamination.
• Restoring, rehabilitating, or improving the land’s surface by filling, grading, or levelling.
• Reclaiming land by draining or filling, including retaining walls, and other works for the reclamation.
• Underground drainage.
• Any other works done to the land that are necessary to improve or prepare it for development.

What is not considered?

• Structural improvements on the land such as houses, buildings, sheds, fencing, dams, and landscaping.
• Minor works such as providing soil for gardens, retaining walls for landscaping purposes, and pruning or removal of trees for beautification purposes.
• Excavations for pools, spas, fishponds, underground car parks, and the footings/ foundations of a structure.
• Internal roads and driveways.
• Irrigation or conservation works.
• Services such as water and sewerage pipes and associated excavations.

What can I do if I think the valuation of my property is incorrect?

Should you believe your property has been incorrectly valued then you may lodge an enquiry with Landgate Valuation Services (LVS) within 60 days after the issue date of an annual or interim (not instalment) rate notice.

Please visit the Landgate website or call Landgate Customer Service on (08) 9273 7373 to obtain information on how your values are calculated.

If you wish to lodge an objection then please refer to the "How do I lodge an objection on my GRV, UV or pastoral rent value” FAQ at Lodging an Objection 

NOTE: All rate payments are required to be paid by their due date, irrespective of whether an objection or appeal has been lodged.