What are rates?

Rates are based on the capital value of your home. Rates are used as taxation by government and local councils to fund public services.

Your rate bill is made up of two parts. The district rate is set by each local council and helps pay for services such as waste collection and leisure centres. The regional rate is set by central government and helps pay for education, health, roads, housing, environmental and cultural services.

Rates are collected by Land & Property Services.

• Regional rates
  
• District rates
  

Regional rates

The regional rate is set by the government and is the same throughout Northern Ireland.  The regional rate pays towards the costs of:

• education,
• health,
• personal and social care,
• housing,
• roads,
• sewerage,
• fire and rescue services,
• water.

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District rates

District rates vary from one council area to another. The district rate pays for council services such as:

• waste collection,
• street cleaning,
• leisure,
• parks,
• community centres,
• cemeteries,
• tourism,
• environmental health.

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