Find answers to frequently asked question related to property rates.
Rate payment options and methods
There are many flexible options for paying your rates, including:
- In full.
- By instalments.
- By special arrangement.
You can also pay next year’s rates in advance through AdvancePay.
Methods of paying rates include direct debit, payment online, by phone, or in person at the City or Australia Post.
Detailed information on payment options and methods is available in the Paying Your Rates page.
We have a Rates Hardship Policy (PDF). Please contact our Rating Services Team on 9400 4000 or via rates@joondalup.wa.gov.au to discuss your options.
Yes, our AdvancePay facility allows you to start paying the following year’s rates. To find out more about AdvancePay visit the Paying Your Rates page.
To find out about eRates, including the benefits, how to register and answers to FAQs, visit the Register for eRates page.
Rates transfer and refund fees
Fees for transferring or refunding payments were first introduced due to a surge in payments made to incorrect accounts or overpayments. These fees reflect the additional administrative cost to rectify these.
A $13 fee (including GST) applies if transferring a payment to the correct property if an incorrect Reference Number was used. The same $13 fee applies to refunds if payments exceed the amount due and a refund of the overpayment is required.
Important: Proof of payment (including bank account and account holder details) will be required in both instances.
For queries on these fees, please contact our Rating Services Team on 9400 4000 or via rates@joondalup.wa.gov.au.
Credit card payment surcharges
Credit cards are a convenient way for ratepayers to pay Rates and Charges. However, we incur a significant cost from card transaction fees imposed by the banks.
The surcharge recoups the merchant service fees that the City is charged by banks on each transaction. This way, only those who use credit cards to pay rates and charges, bear the cost. The credit card surcharge is currently only applied to rates payments as these comprise the largest credit card transaction volumes.
If you choose the 'credit' option while using a Visa/MasterCard debit card, the surcharge will apply. If you choose 'savings' or ‘cheque’, it won't. Use of debit cards for online or phone payments will utilise the ‘credit’ option by default and will, therefore, incur the surcharge.
Yes, payments made via contactless methods like MasterCard PayPass or Visa payWave are processed as credit transactions and will incur the surcharge. This will apply to debit cards as well.
Yes, other payment options include cash, cheque, EFTPOS, and BPAY. You can now also use BPAY with your credit card to pay your rates without incurring the surcharge. You may wish to check with your bank or card issuer whether your transaction will be eligible for rewards points.
Rate calculations and objections
Please note: Detailed information on how rates are calculated, annual fees and charges, and understanding your Rates Notice is provided in the Understanding Property Rates page.
Rates are calculated by multiplying the Gross Rental Value (GRV) or Unimproved Value (UV) of your property by the rate in the dollar. The rate in the dollar is the rates levy for the differential category applied to your property.
GRV is an annual indicative rental value for a property determined by the Valuer General of Western Australia. The Valuer General calculates GRV by analysing actual rental data. This means that properties are rated on their income earning potential rather than their resale value. The Valuer General reassesses the GRV of properties every three years as required under the Local Government Act 1995. The most recent revaluation undertaken was for the 2023/24 financial year.
Yes, property features like location, installation of a pool or patio, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and additional amenities can affect your GRV.
A property owner may lodge an objection within 60 days of the date of issue of the Rates Notice. Rates must still be paid as assessed by the due date, even if an objection has been lodged.
Any reduction in rates as a result of a successful objection will be allocated to any balance outstanding or refunded. For guidance, visit Landgate's website or call their Customer Service at 9273 7373.
A Specified Area Rate (SAR) is an additional rate levied separately on designated areas within the City of Joondalup district. We currently have four SAR areas:
- Iluka
- Woodvale Waters
- Harbour Rise
- New Burns Beach.
Owners in these areas pay a special rate to cover the costs of additional landscaping services. This is charged as a separate rate in the dollar and is listed as an additional item on the rates notice. The same GRV used for calculating rates is applied to this rate in the dollar to calculate the specified area rate payable. The City is required to use the money from specified area rates for the purpose for which the rate is imposed and in the financial year in which it is imposed.
The Specified Area Rates levied in 2024-25 are:
- Burns Beach – 0.37204c/$
- Iluka – 0.59620c/$
- Harbour Rise – 0.71078c/$
- Woodvale Waters – 0.70408c/$
Changes you make to your property may affect your property's valuation (GRV), and in turn, the rates you pay.
The Valuer General will usually provide an amended valuation and effective date within three to five months of the completion of the changes undertaken at your property. It is at this point we will issue an Interim Rates Notice for your property, which is an amended rates notice reflecting the new GRV.
Examples of changes may include the construction of a new building, the installation of a pool, the addition of a new room, the demolition of a property, or the subdivision or strata titling of a property.
Change of property details
Property owners must inform the City of any mailing address changes, in writing, to ensure correct delivery of notices. Simply choose one of the following options:
- Option 1: Online - Complete the Change of Address form
- Option 2: Email - Send your updated address to rates@joondalup.wa.gov.au
- Option 3: Postal Mail - Mail your new details to City of Joondalup, PO Box 21, Joondalup WA 6919.
- The owner or the settlement agent is required to notify the City in writing within 21 days of the sale.
- Normally, this will be done by the purchaser’s settlement agent who submits a Change of Ownership form to the Rating Services Team. This form identifies the property, the seller, buyer and the date ownership changes.
- Rates statements are sent to the seller’s and purchaser’s settlement agents. These identify rates and charges levied and any balances still unpaid.
- Settlement agents usually handle all financial transactions, which include the payment of local government rates, water rates, land tax, etc to ensure there are no outstanding monies on the property being sold.
- Settlement agents calculate the proportion of rates owed by the seller and purchaser respectively, prior to settlement. The settlement process may include funds being retained from both the seller and purchaser to ensure outstanding rates balances are paid on settlement.
More information and contact
For assistance, please contact the City on 9400 4000 and ask for the Rating Services Team, or via rates@joondalup.wa.gov.au.