More valuable houses to expect higher rates

Northern Ireland’s 8,000 most valuable houses are to face higher rates bills under proposals from Stormont’s finance minister.

Rates are a tax paid by households and businesses, based on property values.

The rateable value of houses is currently capped and the proposal is to lift that cap.

Currently, no houses are assumed to be worth more than £400,000 at a 2005 valuation.

That means that large homes in affluent areas like north Down currently pay the same rates as much more modest detached houses.

The highest domestic rates bill in Northern Ireland is currently about £4,200.

Caoimhe Archibald has brought a proposal to the Executive with the intention of seeking agreement for the cap to be lifted in 2025.

She said it is part of a package of short, medium and long term measures aimed at “ensuring our rating system is fair, progressive and equitable.”

Archibald described the proposal as a “proportionate elevation” of the cap with the final numbers involved still to be agreed by the Executive.

Lone Pensioner Allowance will remain in place – it is a non-means tested benefit which gives lone householders aged over 70 a 20% reduction on their rates bill.

Other measures to assist ratepayers on low incomes would also remain in place.

Another part of her package is a revaluation of domestic properties, an exercise which was last carried out in 2006.

A revaluation would be “revenue neutral” meaning it would not raise additional money.

There is the possibility of winners and losers, with some people facing higher bills being offset by those facing lower bills.

Archibald said revaluation would be about “ensuring there is a fair distribution of rates across the system”.

That exercise is a longer term proposal which would not happen in the lifetime of the current Assembly.

She also spoke to BBC News NI about Wednesday’s Westminster budget, saying the Chancellor needs to honour her promise of “no return to austerity”.

Archibald said the Executive is expecting to get confirmation that Stormont will get an additional £500m from the government for 2024.

She said once there is “substantive clarity” in place Stormont can undertake a budget reallocation exercise known as a monitoring round.

Archibald intends to publish a draft budget for 2025/26 before the end of 2024.

Once published it will go out for a 12 week public consultation before being debated by the Assembly and then be in place for the start of the financial year in April 2025.