Frequently Asked Questions

Yes.

All you have to do is request for a copy of your rates notice. This can be mailed out to you or sent via email.

Yes.

The quickest way to request a copy of a rates notice is online.

Yes.

Receiving your rates notice electronically is environmentally friendly and makes it quick and easy to pay your rates online.

We value properties in Hume City on 1 January every year, following Victorian legislation. This is to ensure rates are assessed using current market values.

Property inspections are conducted externally by Certified Practicing Valuers and all relevant sales are analysed by the valuers to build a profile of the level of values for each particular area and property type. The information is then applied to individual properties, taking into account factors such as land size, age, building size and condition.

Rate payers can object to their property valuations within two months of the date of the 2024/25 annual rates notice.

The two month period for objecting to the valuations as listed on the Council rates notice officially closed on 8 November 2024.

You may be eligible for a concession from Council or from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) if you hold a concession card.

In addition to holding one of the concession cards below, you must also:

• ensure your concession card is current and valid
• be the person responsible for payment of the rates
• have your name on the rates notice
• make sure the name and address on your rates notice matches that on your concession card.

Apply for a Municipal Rates Concession 

Apply for a Pension Rebate Retrospective Claim 

If your concession is approved, you do not need to reapply each year. We will check with DHHS annually to find out if you are still eligible for your concession. If you are no longer eligible, we will contact you to advise you that the concession has been removed.

Yes.  

You can arrange to pay your rates via direct debit or a payment booklet in:

• Four instalments as per the due dates on your rates notice
• Monthly payments starting 30 September and ending 31 May (9 total instalments per financial year); or
• Weekly/ fortnightly payments

Set up a payment arrangement 

You can apply for a weekly, fortnightly or monthly direct debit payment plan to spread the payment of your rates. If you currently have an existing payment plan set up with us, but now need to make changes, you can apply for a new payment arrangement.  

Create or change a payment arrangement 

Centrepay is a voluntary bill-paying service which is free for Centrelink customers. Use Centrepay to arrange regular deductions from your Centrelink payment. You can start or change a deduction at any time. The easiest way to do it is through your Centrelink account online in myGov.

Yes.

The quickest and easiest way to update your details with us is online.

Rates across Hume are calculated annually based on the total amount of money required to provide and maintain essential services and infrastructure for the Hume community.

This income is then divided by the total combined value of all properties in Hume and is then known as the rate in the dollar, which for the 2024/25 financial year is $0.0023285.

Capital Improved Value (CIV)

Council calculates rates for each property by multiplying its value by the rate in the dollar. This is the Capital Improved Value (CIV). The CIV is the total market value of the land plus buildings and any other improvements.

For example, an owner of a property with a CIV of $600,000 will pay $1,397.10 in rates.  

The calculation is:

• $600,000 x 0.0023285 = $1,397.10, excluding any extra waste service charges and state government fire services levy.

This formula means that the higher the CIV of a property, the higher the rates for its owner. You can read more about how properties are valued below.

Your rates notice also includes a separate Fire Services Levy, which we are obliged to collect on behalf of the State Government.

The Fire Services Property Levy includes a variable rate depending on the type of property and a fixed charge of:

• $132 for residential properties
• $267 for non-residential properties.

For more information on the Fire Services Levy, visit the State Revenue Office of Victoria or call 13 21 61.

The kerbside waste charge covers the cost of providing kerbside bin collections and hard waste services. All residential ratepayers pay the kerbside waste fee, along with businesses that choose to use our kerbside bin service. 

The public waste charge covers the cost of keeping our public spaces clean. All ratepayers (residential and non-residential) pay the public waste charge.

Visit the waste service charge page for more information.

Where multiple parcels of farm land are used to operate a single farming enterprise, a person may only be required to pay the fixed charge/municipal only charge once by applying for the single farming enterprise exemption.

To apply, a person must submit an application to the Council/s where the relevant properties are located via post. You must notify Council/s if the circumstances relating to your application change, as this may affect your eligibility for the exemption.

Download the single farm enterprise application form(DOC, 80KB).