Ratepayers to receive rates bill

Land & Property Services (LPS) is responsible for issuing rate bills and collecting monies on behalf of the NI Executive and local councils.

The bill outlines the amount due for the billing period 2016-17 and includes any unpaid arrears from previous years, along with any rate relief where applicable.

If there is any information on your bill which you think is incorrect, your circumstances have changed, or you have not received a bill, please contact LPS immediately on 0300 200 7801.

Highlighting the importance of paying rates, an LPS spokesperson said: “As of March 31, 2015, there were 63,000 rateable properties across the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council area. This money is vital for our local economy, as it is invested in public services such as healthcare, education and roads as well as helping to fund numerous council services, including recreational facilities, building control, bin collection, tourism and local events.

“The easiest and most convenient way to pay is by Direct Debit. Currently 55% of ratepayers in Northern Ireland pay their bills this way, spreading the cost of the bill over a 10 month period and helping to ease any financial pressure. A choice of three collection dates is available for Direct Debit – 7th, 15th or 28th of each month.

“As in previous years, there are a number of other ways to pay, including online via the nidirect website, at any Post Office or PayPoint outlet using the ‘Rates Quick Pay Card,’ by phone or in person at an LPS Customer Information Centre.

For domestic ratepayers, there is a 4% discount if they pay their bill in full on or before the discount date of 6 May 2016. In April last year, online and telephone payments increased by 87% as ratepayers took advantage of these faster and easier to use services to receive their discount.”