[able]

We're currently paying about £2,500 a year in council tax. I'm not convinced we get good value for it. How much do you pay in New Zealand and do you think it's value for money?

[Ngeru]

As in the UK, household rates vary in accordance with the value of the property and the local authority. In Auckland there are two lots of rates and the property rates, similar to the UK are based on valuations done every three years.

Our local council is North Shore City, and our rates are $1,818.00 per year paid bi-monthly for a three bedroom house with a Capital Value pf $630k. Plus a one off payment to Auckland Regional Council for approx $303.00

This however is likely to change for future years with the impending amalgamation of all Auckland Councils into one 'Super-city'.

The council rates for us, does not include rubbish collection, this we pay for by way of purchasing pre-paid rubbish bags. $3.50 ish per bag or you can get a contract to have your own wheely bin and pay around $180 per year to have it emptied.

Our water is on a meter and charged separately - our is usually around $70 every six months.

As for it being value for money, it's the same old story, you often have to wonder what they do with it.

[incredible hulse]

Rates are $3600 per year. Have to pay $260 for a fortnightly wheelie bin, tip is about $12 dollars a visit, no street lights, never seen a street cleaner, and little or no bus service. On the plus side there's no water charges and the council, bless them, did give us 2 free light bulbs this year.

[KerryS]

I live in Auckland City, and unlike on the North Shore, our rubbish collection is included in the rates. Wheely bin for domestic waste is collected weekly, and recycling is fortnightly. They also gave me a compost bin and I went to composting lessons all provided for free by the council.
My rates are $1500 per annum, plus an additional amount to Auckland Regional Council, based on my house which has a CV of $590K. (3 bed, but very small section.)
There are street lights, a bus stop with very regular buses, they cut the grass verge outside my house fortnightly in winter, and weekly in summer. Host lots of free events, maintain the park across the street - including an immaculate toilet block and sports pavillion, and a well maintained childrens play area.

I think I get terrific value for money!

[Wooly_Cow]

I think I'm right in saying - you don't pay council tax in a rental (well the landlord does) - least ways I haven't paid it ....maybe there's a HUGE bill waiting for me!

[KerryS]

I think I'm right in saying - you don't pay council tax in a rental (well the landlord does) - least ways I haven't paid it ....maybe there's a HUGE bill waiting for me!

As a tenant you're not liable for paying them, so certainly won't get a bill.
Your landlord should factor the rates into your rent.

[kejktfc]

As a tenant you're not liable for paying them, so certainly won't get a bill.
Your landlord should factor the rates into your rent.


Noted that last night, and as I intend to rent when I first come over it certainly has a bearing as to what monthly rental I will pay. I had budgeted for £2000 ($4700) over 12 months for Council/Rates and Water for the year, that can now be added to get a better rental.......:clap:clap:clap

Fantastic what you can learn on here.


kejktfc

[incredible hulse]

I live in Auckland City, and unlike on the North Shore, our rubbish collection is included in the rates. Wheely bin for domestic waste is collected weekly, and recycling is fortnightly. They also gave me a compost bin and I went to composting lessons all provided for free by the council.
My rates are $1500 per annum, plus an additional amount to Auckland Regional Council, based on my house which has a CV of $590K. (3 bed, but very small section.)
There are street lights, a bus stop with very regular buses, they cut the grass verge outside my house fortnightly in winter, and weekly in summer. Host lots of free events, maintain the park across the street - including an immaculate toilet block and sports pavillion, and a well maintained childrens play area.

I think I get terrific value for money!

You do ! Don't ever move to Kapiti you'll be disappointed - although I notice you didn't seem to get the 2 free light bulbs ;)

Rates here are on Land value (not CV). I actually rang the council once when they rezoned my last place (from rural to rural village) resulting in a 30% rate rise to ask if I would now get street lights, rubbish collection, etc. and was actually told that rates are not for services but are a property tax. They cover things such as parks, councillors, staff costs and roading.

[KerryS]

You do ! Don't ever move to Kapiti you'll be disappointed - although I notice you didn't seem to get the 2 free light bulbs ;)

Rates here are on Land value (not CV). I actually rang the council once when they rezoned my last place (from rural to rural village) resulting in a 30% rate rise to ask if I would now get street lights, rubbish collection, etc. and was actually told that rates are not for services but are a property tax. They cover things such as parks, councillors, staff costs and roading.

Oh, I just meant that my rates figure was based on my house only and gave the CV as an example of the price bracket - if it's land value then it could explain why mine are reasonably low, as my section is really small. I may check and see if I can find out what they base the figure on. The Auckland City Council website is pretty good - you can search on an address and it will tell you the yearly rates due.

No free lightbulbs, but my energy company did give out vouchers for ten free eco-bulbs last year - or could have been the year before, I can't recall...

[Jo Jo]

I paid about £1000 per year for a band D property in central London. Here I pay slightly more for a much larger (though much cheaper!) house with a CV of $420000.

I think our rates here are very poor value. It's very rural, with a low population, so is much more expensive than other places. Two thirds of our rates are for water services (residential water and waste water), though we can use as much water as we like.

We do have street lights, but the roads are pretty rubbish (I've just worked out that only 0.04% of the rates are for roading - which explains why so many of the roads here are metal), and there is no public transport whatsoever. We pay separately for rubbish collection (we have to buy official bags, and pay on a per bag basis) though recycling is included in the rates.

We did get some free cabbage trees, though, in exchange for some noxious weeds I tore out.

[Super_BQ]

I've found the cost of city rates (property tax) in NZ to be relatively cheap. The issue is it's not really comparable to countries that have to offer more services such as "snow removal" which is a huge cost to the city council during the winter time. NZ doesn't have these problems - salt and sanding the streets in winter and in summer time when the snow melts, cleaning the dirt off the roads.

[Mamee & Co]

i'm currently paying over £2k per year council tax. I suppose the thing is that even in rural areas where properties are spread out services just cost more to deliver. EG when I lived in the highlands ina remote rural area I paid the same as I would for property in town. I ahd no street lights but I needed school transport. I still had a public water supply, but there was a lot more piping to supply..so it really is a case of swings and roundabouts.

[catt]

Ours is $1600 a year paid in two 6 monthly chunks to Tauranga City Council. It does not cover rubbish collection that is $3.50 a bag or a wheelie bin system that costs per bin and dependant on size as to how much but general rubbish is collected weekly and recycling fortnightly. The streets are clean and roads are well maintained, parks and amenities within them or great and cleaned and maintained on a daily basis in the summer and weekly in the winter. Grass is cut on verges regularly, street lighting is good, we are generally pleased with the rates here in comparison to our £2400 a year in the UK saying we have a bigger section and house here. We are on water meter and have no clue yet what that will cost us but expect it to be more than in the rental as we seem to be using a lot more than we did with the Karcher and the pool. Electricity is more expensive although we no longer have a gas bill as well so perhaps it works out similar, the only difference being that we dont have central heating and used oil heaters in the rental but now have a log burner in the main part of the house but will continue to use the oil heaters in the bedrooms and hallway. Not tried the bus routes but they seem pretty prolific every 10 minutes or so to get into the CBD. No complaints really :nice1