Outrageous Council Rates!

I have just received my council rates bill for 2016-17. They have gone up over $150 to $1386 (£690) for the year. The charge for my garbage is now $399 (£200) for 120 litre bin.

Last year the council applied to IPART (Independent Pricing Regulatory Tribunal) for an increase in rates above the CPI index (currently about 1.5% per annum) and they got it.

The only discounts I get are $250 pensioner discount and a $28.50 carbon tax refund.

Does your council charge such exorbitant rates?

Re: Outrageous Council Rates!

My CT is £3031.04p.
I haven't a clue how it's spent nor do I want to, it'd only wind me up.
I must have a better type of bin to my neighbour's across the road.
All I know is I have to pay it

Re: Outrageous Council Rates!

Blimey Terry.
Our Council Tax is only £1400 for a D band property ground floor apartment with lovely Sea Views from our patio doors.
What on earth are you living in mate?
A ruddy Mansion?

Re: Outrageous Council Rates!

4 bed detached.
Band H

My previous house that I've just sold was valued at nearly 3x the value of this house, had 6 beds only 1 1/2 miles from here, lake at the bottom of the garden, build completed 2006 and the CT was £2990.

I don't think the banding is fair either.
Band H is for houses valued at £320k+
So those in a £320k 3/4 bed detached are paying the same as those that own a £2m home.

Just shows the difference in council spending.

Re: Outrageous Council Rates!

Mine is also over £3000, but I do get a 25% discount as I live alone. I have an assisted bin collection, which often gets forgotten, so I make a point of telling them that I pay for the service and if they don't do the job I will expect a refund of my payments every time they don't bother to collect, or I will cancel my direct debit. Surprisingly they have now given me the managers mobile phone number so I can contact him directly.

Re: Outrageous Council Rates!

Hi

It is the value of your house in 1991 which counts for the Banding.

Location, location, location.

That's what you pay for living in footballer territory.

Band H is daft, but nobody is going to change it,

Re: Outrageous Council Rates!

I let my husband pay ours I simply don't want to know any more, it winds me up too much seeing the cuts to the disadvantaged and the way we still pay through the nose for it.

Re: Outrageous Council Rates!

Bring back the Poll Tax.

Re: Outrageous Council Rates!

Let's not, at the time of that little disaster I was caring for grandparents and earning £60 a month but still had to find the poll tax. My sisters were both working earning £400 a week and thought it quite fair we all paid the same.

Re: Outrageous Council Rates!

It was a good concept "In Principle".