For help paying, see Housing Benefit and rate relief, Lone Pensioner Allowance and Disabled Persons Allowance.
Quick facts
- Based on
- Your home's capital value
- Valuation cap
- £400,000
- Empty homes
- Rated the same if worth £20,000 or more
- Pay
- In full or monthly
- Tell LPS
- Immediately when you buy or move
- Report changes
- Within a month
How your bill is worked out
Rates are a property tax based on the valuation of your home, multiplied by the rate for your area. The maximum capital valuation for a domestic property is £400,000. For any house valued over £400,000, LPS disregards the additional value when calculating rates.
You can view an estimate of a full annual rate bill for any address using Land & Property Services' online valuation search.
Buying, moving and changes
When you buy your home, you must tell Land & Property Services immediately to avoid a backdated rate bill. To avoid a backdated rate bill, you should tell LPS immediately a change takes place.
You must tell the right organisation about any changes within a month. If you receive Universal Credit, your entitlement to Housing Benefit and Rate Relief will end. To get help paying your rates, you must apply for Rate Rebate.
Paying your rates
You can pay the full amount or pay in monthly instalments, by Direct Debit, online or by phone. There is no charge to pay your rates by debit card. There is a £10,000 limit on the amount you can pay in one transaction.
Empty homes
Property rates are payable on all domestic properties, including empty homes, with a capital value of £20,000 or more. The amount due is the same if the property is empty or occupied.
An automatic exclusion will be awarded if an empty property’s capital value is less than £20,000. Other exclusions, for example after flooding, need an application and evidence, and give 100 per cent relief.
Rented homes
A landlord is usually responsible for rates if the home has a capital value of £150,000 or less. If a rental property’s value is over £150,000, the tenant is responsible for rates unless their landlord has agreed to pay the rates using an application for Article 21.
If you think your valuation is wrong
You can apply to have the valuation of an individual property reviewed because you believe the valuation is incorrect, or because something has changed. You can apply by post, email or online.
Common questions
How are rates worked out in Northern Ireland?
From your home's capital value, capped at £400,000, multiplied by the district rate for your area.
Do I pay rates on an empty house in Northern Ireland?
Yes, at the same amount, if its capital value is £20,000 or more. Below that, it is excluded automatically.
Who pays the rates in a rented house?
Usually the landlord if the home is worth £150,000 or less; above that, usually the tenant.
- nidirect: How rate bills are calculated
- nidirect: Occupying and leaving property
- nidirect: How you can pay your rate bill
- nidirect: Rates rental properties
- nidirect: Sign up for rates
- nidirect: Rating of empty homes
- nidirect: Change of circumstances
- nidirect: Find out more about the valuation of domestic properties for rates