Council rates relief for properties damaged beyond repair in NSW bushfires

The NSW Government is providing a further 6 months of council rates relief for eligible home, farm and business owners whose properties were damaged beyond repair in the 2019-2020 bushfires.

Council rates for quarter 3 (January – March) and quarter 4 (April – June) of the 2019-2020 financial year have already been paid out, and the 6-month extension will cover rates notices for quarter 1 (July – September) and quarter 2 (October – December) of 2020-2021.

To be eligible you must:

• be a home, farm or business property owner in a bushfire declared disaster area
• have had your property deemed damaged beyond repair by the Rural Fire Service (RFS) and/or Emergency Information Coordination Unit (EICU).

You're not eligible if the only structure damaged or destroyed is an outbuilding on the property such as a shed.

You do not need to apply for this council rates relief.

Service NSW is working with local councils in bushfire-affected areas to ensure that eligible property owners receive the benefit.

Eligible property owners will:

• have their accounts credited with the value of quarter 1 (Q1) and quarter 2 (Q2) council rates
• receive notification by post from Service NSW that their council rates have been paid in full for Q1 and Q2 of the 2020-2021 financial year.

• If you've already paid your rates in advance, you have the option of contacting your local council to request a monetary refund.
• If you believe your property has suffered damage beyond repair, and you did not receive any notification of eligibility, call us on 13 77 88. Have a copy of your recent council rates notice on hand when you call.