Understanding your rates

Your rates unravelled

Rates help pay for a whole lot of council services. If you're a property owner you'll pay rates, or if you rent your home, you're still helping someone pay their rates. Find out about what’s included in your rates bill, and what other funding sources are available to Council.

Frequently asked questions

What are rates and how are they set?

Rates are an annual charge against a property set by Council in July of each year. Rates help us to fund the services we provide.

What do rates cost?

Find out the rates you’ll pay by searching our property search database.

Where do my rates go?

Your rates support a number of services essential to keep Hamiltonians healthy, safe and happy, such as:

Water management
rubbish and recycling
burials and cemeteries
city planning and safety
transport
democracy
parks and recreation
arts and community groups.

A visual breakdown of what your rates fund is included in your rates.

How do I pay my rates?

Rates are invoiced in four instalments for the financial year that begins 1 July and ends 30 June the following year.

You can choose to receive your rates invoice by email and you can pay your rates by direct debit, credit card, internet banking or in person.

Pay in quarterly instalments by the due dates below, or annually in full. Paying by direct debit also allows you to pay in weekly, fortnightly, or monthly instalments. The full amount is detailed on the invoice to 30 June and will include any outstanding rates and penalties.

Pay your rates by the due date to avoid penalties. Your invoice will be posted or emailed around four to five weeks before they’re due. Find out more about how to pay rates.

When are my rates due?

2025/26 Instalment 1 4 September 2025

2025/26 Instalment 2 27 November 2025

2025/26 Instalment 3 26 February 2026

2025/26 Instalment 4 21 May 2026

What are rates based on?

Rates are based on:

the use of the property (e.g. residential/commercial)
the rating valuation of the property
the number of Separately Used or Inhabited Parts (SUIPs) of the property
the availability of services to the property (e.g. water, wastewater, refuse collection)
the location of the property if it is commercial (i.e. in the CBD or outside the CBD)

Council operates different rating categories. Different rates apply to the different categories:

residential
commercial (outside the CBD)
BID commercial (in the CBD)

How did the 2024 revaluation affect rates?

Hamilton’s 2024 citywide property revaluation has now been completed. This revaluation is required by law and helps Council calculate rates based on updated property values. The new values are a snapshot in time as at 1 September 2024.

Residential property values decreased by an average of 12% since 2021

Commercial and industrial property values increased by an average of 6.3%.

These changes vary by suburb and property type – you can view your updated valuation using our property search tool.

Council’s 2024-34 Long-Term Plan set an average rates increase of 15.5% for the 2025/26 year. Your individual rates change will depend on how your property’s value has changed compared to others:

If your property’s value decreased more than the citywide average, your rates increase may be lower than 15.5%

If your property’s value increased or didn’t drop as much, your rates increase may be higher than 15.5%.

Why does water appear separately in my rates bill?

We have introduced separate targeted rates for water supply, wastewater and city-wide stormwater services. The separate rates are necessary under the government's Local Water Done Well legislation, as part of preparing to transition water services to IAWAI Flowing Waters from 2026. The new rates are not in addition to what you've paid for previously. Hamilton properties have always paid for water services through the ʼgeneral rateʼ (except where there is a metered charge). The ʼgeneral rateʼ portion of a property's rates will be reduced in 2025/26 to accommodate the new separate rates.