Rate bills issued

The bills, issued by Land & Property Services (LPS), the Agency responsible for collecting rates, show the amount due for the billing period 2012/13, any debt carried forward from previous years and any rate relief where applicable. If any of your circumstances have changed, or you think the information on the bill is incorrect, you should contact LPS immediately.

Visiting staff in LPS today, Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said: “The collection of rates enables much needed investment in public services such as healthcare, education and roads as well as helping to fund a number of Council services including recreational facilities, bin collection, building control, tourism and local events.

“The staff in LPS offices across Northern Ireland are here to help and are available to speak to anyone who needs assistance with paying their rates bill and provide information on a number of payment options which are available. The easiest method of payment is by Direct Debit as it enables you to spread the cost of your rate bills over a 10 month period. LPS offers ratepayers a choice of three collection dates – 7th, 15th or 28th of the month.

“If you are the owner of an occupied home and prefer to pay your bill in full, a discount of 4% is available if LPS receives payment on or before the discount date of 4 May 2012.”

Ratepayers must allow a minimum of five 1 working days for payment to reach LPS. This discount is not available to owners of empty homes.

Other methods of payment available include standing order, telephone and internet banking, cheque, or by using the ‘Rates QuickPay Card’. This is accepted in any Post Office and 800 participating payzone outlets.

Mr Wilson continued: “I am well aware of the financial pressures many households and businesses are currently facing, so over the last few months, the Executive has passed a number of measures to provide relief to small businesses and rejuvenate town centres. There are also a range of reliefs and entitlements available to domestic ratepayers. If you are having trouble paying your rate bill I would urge you to contact LPS to see if you are entitled to any of the rate reliefs available or to arrange a more manageable payment agreement.”

Concluding, the Minister said: “With more people contacting LPS to arrange payment plans and seek relief, the jobs of our front-line staff have become increasingly tough and demanding. I commend the commitment of the staff members I have met here today in balancing customer requests and meeting the collection targets required to fund our public services.”

Further information and guidance on rates is available here. Alternatively, ratepayers can speak to LPS staff in Orchard House, Londonderry.