FAQs and About Your Rates

Council budgets are set to meet the aspirations, priorities and vision of our community, as laid out in our community-informed Council Plan for the Future 2024 – 2034. 

Your rates contribute to the delivery of products and community services to our diverse and ever changing community to help achieve our vision of a vibrant, sustainable and inclusive Melville.

How your rates are calculated

Each property is individually assessed by the Valuer Generals Office once every three years to determine its Gross Rental Value (GRV), which is the yearly rent the property would be expected to receive. Where a property is vacant, the GRV is calculated as 3% of the market value of the land. 

As part of the yearly budget process, we calculate the Rate in the Dollar by dividing the total amount of money to be raised in general rates by the total value of all rateable properties. The resulting figure is the Rate in the Dollar.

A combination of these two result in your rates charges: Your rates = GRV x Rate in Dollar.

The overall objective for your rates is to provide for the shortfall in income required to enable us to provide the necessary works and services in the financial year, after taking into account all non-rate sources of income. We implement differential rating to provide equity in the rating of properties across the City. Further details on differential ratings can be found in the Annual Budget.

Your rate notice also includes additional charges. An Emergency Services Levy which goes to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) and is calculated using your Gross Rental Value (GRV) x the rate in the dollar provided by DFES. Charges that are not affected by the GRV include a Property Surveillance Charge and a Pool Fee if applicable.

Properties with a pool or spa also pay a Pool/Spa Inspection Fee, which is used to fund the Swimming Pool Compliance Program. Properties located in an underground power project area also pay additional charges to fund the installation of underground power in that suburb.

Any charges applicable to you will be on the front of your rates notice.

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How to read your rates notice

1. Due Date

Full payment or the first instalment date needs to be received by the City by this date.

2. Gross Rental Value (GRV)

Set by the Valuer Generals Office, this is a conservative estimate of the amount the property could be rented for in one year.

3. Rate in the Dollar

Set by the City, this is the 'Cents per dollar' of GRV that the City charges in rates. Calculated by the revenue required by rates divided by the combined rental value of all rateable properties (GRV).

4. Property Surveillance and Security Fee

This annual fee goes towards MelSafe - the City’s highly visible, 24/7 mobile safety patrol service: $67.00 per property

5. State Government Charges and Rebates

We collect some charges on behalf of the State Government.

  • Emergency Services Levy - collected on behalf of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
  • State Government Rebate - claimed on behalf of eligible Pensioner/Senior Card holders and paid by the Office of State Revenue.

6. Pool / Spa Inspection Fee

This annual fee covers the cost of regular safety compliance inspections and applies to properties which have a pool / spa: $63.00

7. Quarterly Instalment Dates

To pay by instalments, the first instalment must be paid by the first instalment date.

Cost of instalment option – registered pensioner and senior card holders do not pay an instalment cost.

8. Payment Methods

Information on various payment methods available. This section also includes your unique eRates reference number and BPay View number, which you need if you want to sign up to receive your rates electronically.

9. Cost of Instalment Option

Where payment of rates or service charges are made by instalments a 2% administrative charge will be applied.

Payment dates 2025-2026

Payment dates for your 2025-2026 rates are listed below:

  • Issue date: 25 July 2025
  • 1st Instalment: 29 August 2025
  • 2nd Instalment: 28 October 2025
  • 3rd Instalment: 2 January 2026
  • 4th Instalment: 6 March 2026

Frequently Asked Questions about rates

Gross Rental Value (GRV) is the yearly income the property would be expected to generate if rented. The valuation is provided and determined by the Valuer Generals Office and is updated every three years. The rental value for a house is influence by factors like age, construction, size, car shelters and pools. By analysing property rents against these individual attributes and characteristics it is possible to assess a valuation for all properties, whether they are rented or not.

The Valuation of Land Act 1978 (as amended) Part IV sets out the manner in which objections and appeals may be instituted if you object to the GRV set for your property.

An objection against the valuation must be made in writing and received by the Valuer General, 1 Midland Square, Midland WA 6056, within 60 days of the issue of this rate notice. Please quote your Ven number.

A person who is dissatisfied with the decision of the Valuer General in respect to the objection may lodge an appeal to the Land Valuation Tribunal.

If an objection or an appeal is lodged the full amount of rates remains due and payable by the due date on the notice, regardless of the expected outcome of the appeal.

Yes, if an objection or an appeal is lodged, the amount (depending on payment option chosen) of rates remains due and payable by the due date on the notice, regardless of the expected outcome of the appeal.

Unpaid rates will begin to accrue interest after the due date/instalment date/s and will continue to accrue each day until the overdue amount is paid. For 2025-2026, this amount is set at 3.5% calculated daily.

As part of the yearly budget process, we calculate the Rate in the Dollar by dividing the total amount of money to be raised in general rates by the total value of all rateable properties. The resulting figure is the Rate in the Dollar.

We offer the below payment options:

  1. Full payment by the due date
  2. Four quarterly instalments (instalment interest of 2% applies)

We also offer flexible payment plans to suit your needs. Contact our rates department if you would like to spread out your rates in weekly, fortnightly, monthly or even ad-hoc instalments. interest of 3.5% will apply.

Yes we do. Please contact our rates department if you would like to set up a payment plan. Interest of 3.5% will apply.

Should you be experiencing financial difficulties, alternative payment arrangements can be made with the us by contacting our friendly Customer Relations team via phone (08) 9364 0666 | 1300 635 845 or by email [email protected]. We strongly encourage those who have difficulties in meeting their payments to make contact with our rates department as early as possible.

Under Section 6.51 of the Local Government Act 1995, The City may charge interest on overdue balances. Interest will begin to accrue after the due date/instalment date/s and will continue to accrue each day until the overdue amount is paid. For 2025-2026, the rate of interest is set at 3.5% calculated daily. This rate is set in accordance with Local Government (Financial Management) Regulations 1996.

Eligible pensioners and seniors are exempt from late payment penalty interest.

Rates and service charges that remain outstanding 35 days after the date of issue may be recovered by legal action without further notice. Costs incurred in any legal action taken to recover the outstanding amount will be added to your account. If payment is allowed to fall into arrears for a period of three or more years, the City may:

  1. Sell the land;
  2. Take the land and let or lease the property;
  3. Have the land vested in the Local Government;
  4. Have the land vested in the Crown.

Seniors with a valid WA Seniors Card are eligible for a 25% rebate for ESL and 25% for rates up to a maximum of $100; and pensioners who hold either a Pensioner Concession Card, State Concession Card, or both a WA Seniors Card and Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card are eligible for a 50% rebate up to a maximum of $750 for pensioner and $100 for seniors. To be eligible, the applicant must be the owner-occupier of the property as at 1 July of the rating year. Partial concessions may be available for people who become eligible during that rating year. All seniors/pensioners/health care card holders must pay the amount under ‘Total Charged’ to receive the rebate.

To apply for a rebate, visit www.watercorporation.com.au/Bill-and-account/Apply-for-a-concession and fill in the application form. If there are arrears outstanding on the property when you apply, they must be paid to receive you rebate.

If your circumstances change, i.e. you are no longer the owner-occupier or lose your pensioner/senior status, you must tell our rates department immediately.

Pensioners fulfilling the requirements above also have the option to defer their rates, however, cannot claim the rebate if they choose to do so. Pensioners deferring their rates must still pay the Property Surveillance Charge and Pool Inspection Fee (if applicable). You must be registered with the Water Corporation to be eligible to defer your rates. All arrears also need to be paid in full to be able to defer your rates.

Rebates to Pensioners and Seniors under the Rates and Charges (Rebates and Deferments Act) are funded by the Government of Western Australia.

The Emergency Service Levy helps fund WA’s fire and emergency services, including fire stations, volunteer fire brigades, State Emergency Service (SES) units, the Volunteer Marine Rescue Service and the multi-purpose Volunteer Emergency Service Units.

This levy is a State Government charge and is required to be collected on behalf of the Department of Fire and Emergency Service (DFES) by all Western Australia Local Government Authorities. Find out more information about the Emergency Services Levy

All properties are charged the Property Surveillance Charge, which helps fund a range of programs and services to improve neighbourhood amenity, including the City’s MelSafe service, a highly visible, 24/7 mobile patrol service that acts as extra eyes and ears for the community and police.

Find out more

The property surveillance and security charge covers a range of programs and services to improve neighbourhood amenity. These include the reporting of graffiti and community development programs for groups such as at-risk youth and the elderly. The aim is to improve overall safety and security, to make Melville a great place to live. This helps to maintain property values for owners.

Vacant land can also be damaged, have material dumped without authorisation, or people may congregate and cause a nuisance. In addition, vacant land may be under construction. The Community Safety Service observes and reports any problems spotted on vacant land or construction sites, which is important as the lot is generally unoccupied.

In accordance with Building Regulations 2012, a Pool/Spa inspection fee is charged to properties that have a private pool or a spa containing water that is more than 300mm deep. It is used to fund the Swimming Pool Compliance Program, which includes inspection and advice to property owners on pool safety and legislative obligations. All pools in the City are inspected every four years.

Find out more

The legislative requirement is that each pool is inspected every four years and brought into compliance. Our strategy is to complete inspections on 25 percent of all pools within the City each year. The annual pool levy charge is equal to one quarter of the cost of providing this service for each home.

Additional inspections, such as when purchasing a property, are available upon request on a fee for service basis.

What are these underground power charges?
The underground power charges are used to fund the installation of underground power in project suburbs. They consist of a network service charge and a network connection fee. The network service charge is the same for all properties in the project area. The network connection fee is only charged if a suitable connection doesn’t already exist. If it does, no connection charge is applied. If a connection already exists but needs more work to connect to the network, a modified connection fee is charged. If no connection exists, then a full connection fee is charged.

Properties included in the Willagee/Myaree/Melville underground power project for 2025-2026 please click Find out More for further information.

Find out more

You do not have to pay it all at once. The City is able to offer payment arrangements to residents, with the option of spreading underground power charges over a repayment period of five years from the date of issue. Interest applies at 3.5% per annum calculated daily on any remaining underground power charges.

Find out more

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The City of Melville acknowledges the Bibbulmun people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which the City stands today and pays its respects to the Whadjuk people, and Elders both past and present.

City of Melville nagolik Bibbulmen Nyungar ally-maga milgebar gardukung naga boordjar-il narnga allidja yugow yeye wer ali kaanya Whadjack Nyungar wer netingar quadja wer burdik.

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