Lower or no rates for 11 new property categories

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"Public benefit and non-profit organisations, such as those providing a haven for street people, those caring for war veterans, youth, children and our shared natural heritage in particular, perform an absolutely crucial function and essential service in communities. That is why we have focused much attention on ways to help these organisations.

"They add to the well-being of our city and its people, especially during these very trying times. This is part of our overall efforts to help those who have been severely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis," said the city’s mayoral committee member for finance, and executive deputy mayor, Ian Neilson.

Legislative changes

Amendments to the Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act limited the city’s discretion to assist some public benefit organisations (PBOs) and non-profit organisations (NPOs) that had previously benefited from rates rebates but had fallen off the list due to the legislative changes. After much work and legal input and with council’s approval, 11 new categories for rates relief have been added from 1 July 2020.

11 new property categories

• Cemeteries and crematoria
  
• Properties owned by NPOs and used for animal shelters
  
• Properties owned by NPOs and used as an early childhood development facility
  
• Properties owned by NPOs and used for youth development
  
• Properties owned by NPOs and used for street people shelters
  
• Properties owned by NPOs and used as a local community museum
  
• Properties owned by NPOs and used for an old age home
  
• Properties owned by NPOs and used exclusively for amateur sport
  
• Properties owned by a Social Housing Regulatory Authority-accredited social housing institution and used for social housing
  
• Properties owned by war veterans’ associations and used for the welfare of war veterans
  
• Nature conservation land

These new property categories are thus added to the existing rating categories, namely:

• Agricultural properties;
  
• Business and commercial properties;
  
• Industrial properties;
  
• Mining properties;
  
• Properties used for multiple purposes;
  
• Properties owned by an organ of state and used for public service purposes;
  
• Properties owned by public benefit organisations and used for specified public benefit activities;
  
• Public service infrastructure (PSI);
  
• Residential properties; and
  
• Vacant land

Organisations that qualify for the 11 new property categories can apply here.