Christchurch City Council is reminding residents, businesses and organisations who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 crisis that they can apply for more time to pay their rates.
Ratepayers will soon receive their first quarterly rates demand for the 2020-21 financial year.
Get your rates invoice by email
Ratepayers can opt to receive their quarterly rates invoice and assessment by email.
Signing up to get your rates bill by email is easy. All you need to do is register at ccc.govt.nz/ratesinvoice.
You will need a rates invoice with you when you fill out the form as you will need your valuation number and unique document number to register for the service.
Once you have registered, you will receive your next rates invoice notice by email.
“We know people have lost income or jobs because of the COVID-19 crisis and some are struggling to pay all their bills. If you are a property owner in that situation, you can apply for more time to pay each of your rates instalments for the 2020/21 financial year,’’ says Council Head of Financial Management Diane Brandish.
“You will still have to pay the full amount of your rates but you can extend the payment dates out to the end of June 2022.’’
There will be no interest charged or fee for the deferral.
“Because we don’t want a large amount of rates to become payable for you all at one time, we will ask when you apply what regular contribution you can afford to pay towards your rates over that period,’’ Ms Brandish says.
The regular contributions can start off low and increase over time.
To be eligible for a rates payment extension, ratepayers will need to show their income has fallen by at least 30 per cent due to the pandemic and that they will experience financial difficulties if they have to pay their rates on the due date.
“Before you apply, you should have applied first for other assistance where that is available from either central Government or your bank,’’ Ms Brandish says.
Learn more about how to apply for a rates payment extension.