SENIORS RATE POSTPONEMENT SCHEME

HOW DO I DO IT?

Getting approval to postpone your rates is fairly simple.  Your  rates notice should include information about how to apply.

Provided you are the holder of a State Seniors Card, your Council will ask you to fill out an application form, and will ask you to provide just one supporting document.

• If you have a mortgage over your home (and the mortgage was registered before 25 January 2007) then the council will need to receive documentary proof from the bank (or other financial institution) that holds your mortgage about the level of security it is holding.  In other words, what is the maximum credit available under your mortgage?  Any options such as a mortgage re-draw, or a revolving line of credit must be taken into account, even if you don’t intend to use those options.  Provided the total potential debt is no more than 50% of the Valuer-General’s capital value of your home, then your application will be approved.
• If you have no mortgage over your home (or if you have only a mortgage that was registered on or after 25 January 2007) then the Council only needs to receive documentary proof from the Lands Titles Office to that effect.

If you cannot provide one or the other of these documents, then the Council may (at its discretion) refuse your application to postpone payment of rates.

However, provided your application is approved, there will be no need to re-apply in following years.  Your application, once approved, gives you the option to keep on postponing rates for:

• as long as you are still eligible -  i.e. as long as you (or one of you, if a couple) holds a State Seniors Card; and
• as long as the property remains your principal place of residence.