Can council charge rates to each dwelling if a property has not been subdivided?

Hi

I'm unsure, does anyone know, are council able to charge per dwelling if there are multiple dwellings on 1 title.
ie: recently built multiple townhouses, but have not yet undertaken subdivision of title.

Council have mailed 'supplementary valuation notices' for each townhouse - with extra charges based on new capital improved value

Council advise that the supplementary notices are calculated based on Certificate of Occupancy permit date NOT subdivision of title date...

I guess this falls under the death & taxes category, they have us every which way.....

 

I have 2 on a block in Perth. I still get on rates bill and it is higher than before, with the additional dwelling pushing up the fees. It's not double the old fee though.

 

Each lot or stratum would receive a individual notice. If there are multiple dwellings on a non strata title then one account may issue and it may include multiple service charges for waste etc but often just treated as a single dwelling. Generally until Land Title is divided at that time of the subdivide and it affcets rates, water and sewer and land tax. On the subdivision they will thereafter issue individual notices. Of course land value will change. Many councils have a process to smooth transition for a interim period. Ask your council what the process is.

I recall recently seeing a client who had paid the first quarter so council reissued 4 x annual notices with a smoothing adjustment of each reval and then credited 1/4 of what had been paid. One thing to watch is land tax since some or none may now be eligible and 4 x titles could be assessable. Again some states have a process to smooth that too.

 

Yes, under the Local Government Act.