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How do property valuations affect my rates?

Every three years, Quotable Value New Zealand (QV) reassesses property values (land value and capital value). Below, you can see the total Rangitīkei District capital value for each of the last three assessments:

  • 2014: $3.774 billion
  • 2017: $4.461 billion
  • 2020: $6.262 billion

Every year, Council decides through its planning processes how much money is required to pay for the services it will provide for the next 12 months. From there decisions are made as to how it will be paid for. Every third year the process is more involved as Council develops a Long Term Plan that covers the next 10 years.

The outcome of this analysis is summarised on each rates assessment. Some of the terms you see on your rates assessment include:

Uniform Annual General Charge: This is a generic charge applicable to each dwelling and is for specific district-wide services that all ratepayers enjoy. This rate is determined through the Long Term Plan and Annual Plan process.

General Rate: This rate is based on the Capital Value of your property.

SUIP: A separately used or inhabited part of a rating unit includes any portion inhabited or used by [the owner/a person other than the owner], and who has the right to use or inhabit that portion by virtue of a tenancy, lease, licence, or other agreement. This definition includes separately used parts, whether or not actually occupied at any particular time, which are used by the owner for rental (or other form of occupation) on an occasional or long term basis by someone other than the owner. For the purpose of this definition, vacant land and vacant premises offered or intended for use or habitation by a person other than the ratepayer and usually used as such is to be treated as separately used. Any part of a rating unit that is used as a home occupation and complies with the permitted activity performance standards in the District Plan is not treated as separately used. For the avoidance of doubt, a rating unit that has a single use or occupation is treated as having one separately used or inhabited part.

Roading District Rate: Specific rate to pay for road maintenance in each ward and is based on the Capital Value of your property.

There are other charges for specific services relating to the property, such as stormwater, sewerage, solid waste and potable water.

Only general rate and the roading district rate are based on the Capital Value of each property – therefore both these rates will fluctuate to different degrees after QV valuations are applied.

It’s important to understand that an increase in property value does not mean a corresponding increase in rates. Property values only have an impact on two of the ten or eleven lines that typically make up a residential rates assessment.

Further information regarding this process is included in the current Long Term Plan.

Rangitīkei District Council will use the new valuations to determine rating that will take effect from 1 July every year.

More information:

  • What are rates? In New Zealand, councils are funded by a form of property taxation known as rates. Every three years, each District and city is revalued to set the values on which council rates are based for the following three years.
  • Who is Quotable Value New Zealand? It is a State-Owned Enterprise, independent of Council.
  • What is the rating valuation based on? It is based on two things:
  • What would the value of a property be if sold by a willing seller to a willing buyer on the valuation date? The valuers assume the property is for sale and then use current sales histories and other information to assess what the property would probably fetch if it was sold on that day.
  • What is the best use of the property? The valuers consider what a new purchaser might do with the property to maximise its value. The valuation is made on this “highest and best use” basis, rather than the existing use. For example, a smaller pastoral block may have a higher value as a lifestyle residential property, and a smaller farming property on the outskirts of a larger urban township may have a higher value as a residential subdivision.
  • When did the revaluation occur? QV undertook a desktop revaluation on the same day across the Rangitīkei District in 2020. In November, QV advised property owners of the new valuation by sending them a notice.
  • When will the revaluation affect my rates? Rangitīkei District Council will use the new valuations to determine rating beginning from 1 July.
  • When will the next revaluation occur? In November 2023.