Frequently Asked Questions

Council is supporting ratepayers through COVID-19 with a range of initiatives, including:

• more time to pay
• flexible payment plan options
• freezing interest on late payments from 1 June 2020 until 31 December 2020
• deferring rates for those in extreme financial hardship

We have also introduced a rates relief waiver, which provides up to $50 relief for eligible residential and rural ratepayers on their primary residence. For ratepayers who receive the $38 pension rebate from Council, this will be reflected as an additional $12 rate relief on your annual rates notice. 

If you have queries about the COVID-19 relief waiver, we encourage you to submit an enquiry online. You can expect to hear back from us within 10 business days

Enquire online 

We value properties in Hume City on 1 January every year, following Victorian legislation. This is to ensure rates are assessed using current market values.

Property inspections are conducted externally by Certified Practicing Valuers and all relevant sales are analysed by the valuers to build a profile of the level of values for each particular area and property type. The information is then applied to individual properties, taking into account factors such as land size, age, building size and condition.

No.  

The 2020/21 valuations are based on valuations prior to the pandemic. 

The 2020 general valuation has a relevant date of 1 January 2020 and is therefore based on market conditions at, and immediately before, that date. There is no basis under the Valuation of Land Act 1960 (the Act) for valuers to consider COVID-19 impacts when assessing statutory values for the purposes of the 2020 general valuation. 

This means that rates assessment notices for 2020-21, to be issued from July to September 2020, will be based on valuations prior to the pandemic. Any market changes occurring now, or in the future, due to COVID-19 will be applicable to future revaluation cycles and reflected in subsequent rates assessment notices. 

Yes.

 As a ratepayer you can object to a valuation of your property.

Objections must be made within two months of the date of the annual rates notice. The legislated timeframes set out in Section 18 of the Valuation of Land Act 1960 are obligatory. Neither Valuer-General Victoria nor a municipal council has the power to review the objection if it does not fall within the statutory time limit.

The objection can be made in relation to the value of a property or on other grounds specified in the Valuation of Land Act 1960. 

Before starting your application, make sure you have your Annual Rates Notice handy as you will need important information from your notice to submit your enquiry. 

Enquire online 

Alternatively, you can download and print your application to send via post.

If you object to a valuation, you must still pay your rates by the due date. Failure to pay rates by the required date generally results in interest being imposed. Any reduction in rates caused by a successful objection will then be credited to your account.

You may be eligible for a concession from Council or from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) if you hold a concession card.

In addition to holding one of the concession cards below, you must also:

• ensure your concession card is current and valid
• be the person responsible for payment of the rates
• have your name on the rates notice
• make sure the name and address on your rates notice matches that on your concession card.

Apply for a Municipal Rates Concession 

Apply for a Pension Rebate Retrospective Claim 

If your concession is approved, you do not need to reapply each year. We will check with DHHS annually to find out if you are still eligible for your concession. If you are no longer eligible, we will contact you to advise you that the concession has been removed.

Yes.  

You can arrange to pay your rates via direct debit or a payment booklet in:

• Four instalments as per the due dates on your rates notice
• Monthly payments starting 30 September and ending 31 May (9 total instalments per financial year); or
• Weekly/ fortnightly payments

Set up a payment arrangement 

If COVID-19 has made it hard for you to pay your rates, there are a number of options available to you.

You can apply for a weekly, fortnightly or monthly direct debit payment plan to spread the payment of your rates. If you currently have an existing payment plan set up with us, but now need to make changes, you can apply for a new payment arrangement.  

Create or change a COVID-19 payment arrangement 

You can also pay your rates by arranging a regular deduction from your Centrelink payment through Centrepay.

Pay via Centrepay(PDF, 137KB)

Rates across Hume are calculated annually based on the total amount of money required to provide and maintain essential services and infrastructure for the Hume community. 

Where multiple parcels of farm land are used to operate a single farming enterprise, a person may only be required to pay the fixed charge/municipal only charge once by applying for the single farming enterprise exemption.

To apply, a person must submit an application to the Council/s where the relevant properties are located via post. You must notify Council/s if the circumstances relating to your application change, as this may affect your eligibility for the exemption.

Download the single farm enterprise application form(DOC, 80KB).