6,000 Ratepayers get some Rates Rises Relief
From 3news.co.nz
Up to 6,000 Aucklanders eligible for rate support
Up to 6,000 Aucklanders property-owners ineligible for rates capping may instead qualify for a special grant.
Auckland Council announced the scheme after an outcry from residents who are facing sizeable rates hikes.
The grants will allow some ratepayers with “changed properties” to receive the same rates transition benefits as if they hadn’t altered their properties.
At least Council moved after some of the shockers we have seen over the past two weeks with those getting more than a 10% rates rise in their letter box. Private property owners whether residential (like me) or business should be able to undertake significant capital improvement to our properties as mentioned in the article without having being spooked by excessive rates rises in the next cycle of rates:
To be eligible for the grant scheme properties must meet the following criteria:
- have been renovated, or
- had an additional separately used or inhabited part added, or
- another change of a similar nature, i.e. an additional room or increased floor area or
- a combination of the above.
I say that as Rebekka and I are undertaking some renovations both inside the house and landscaping wise outside to our first home here in Papakura.
While annoyed at my fellow ratepayers getting stung at least Auckland Council reacted quickly with somewhat of a solution. Still we need to get a final solution on this situation before the transition cap runs out in three years and quite a few people get stung by rather large rates rises…
