Last year Auckland Council agreed to support residents in need with 100 per cent rates relief for uninhabited storm damaged homes, following severe weather events in the first half of 2023.
This rates relief will extend into the current 2024/2025 rating year.
If you received a rates relief in 2023/2024, you will have been contacted by the council asking if your home was still uninhabitable as of 30 June 2024. If you have not heard from us, or think you are entitled to a rates relief (read information below), please email us at ratesrelief@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
What is available for uninhabitable homes?
Red placarded houses
Houses that remain red placarded as of 30 June 2024 will be able to receive 100 per cent rates relief for the full 2024/2025 rating year. After you confirm with council that your house is still uninhabitable (and show proof), a credit will be automatically applied to rates invoices, so you don’t need to do anything.
Yellow placarded houses
Every yellow placarded property has a unique situation, and some are habitable while others are not. If your home is uninhabitable, then please email us at recoveryoffice@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Applications will be assessed based on personal circumstances.
Supporting homeowners
A disaster like this can take its toll. The support team in the council’s Recovery Office are ready to offer a helping hand to those who need it. Email the team on recoverywellbeing@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz to get connected with agencies who might be able to offer financial, accommodation, insurance or mental health support.
Staff in the council’s Recovery Office have been busy behind the scenes engaging with government agencies, insurers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and banks to advocate for increased financial support for displaced homeowners and tenants. You will find an update on what additional support might be available in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.
Keep checking the Recovery page for the latest information, news and support on the recovery and repair of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the council offering rates relief?
We are aware of the financial hardship experienced by many of those impacted by extreme weather events during the first half of 2023. This rates relief is targeted at those people with uninhabitable homes who have been affected most.
Why do yellow stickered households have to apply for rates relief?
Yellow stickered houses include a range of different scenarios that affect livability depending on the extent and location of damage on the property and the stage of remediation. We need to understand more about your individual situation.
What does uninhabitable mean?
All properties with red stickers on 30 June 2024 are considered uninhabitable.
If your property has another coloured sticker (or potentially no sticker at all), the house will need to meet the following criteria:
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is in a state of disrepair, or
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has insufficient or defective provisions against moisture penetration through the roof or external walls, so as to cause dampness in the dwelling, or
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does not have a supply of potable water that is adequate for its intended use, or
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does not have sanitary facilities (no working bathroom or kitchen) that are adequate for its intended use.
You will need to provide photographic evidence of this.
When will my property’s rating valuation be reassessed?
If there has been significant and long-lasting physical damage because of the extreme weather events in the first half of 2023, you can request a rating valuation review by emailing ratesrelief@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Otherwise, your rating valuation will remain as it is until the next city-wide revaluation which is due for publication late 2024 and will be used to set rates for the 2025/2026 rating year.
I don’t qualify for rates relief, and I’m concerned about my ability to pay?
If you are concerned about your ability to pay rates, and would like to find out more about the flexible financial assistance options on offer, such as a payment plan, you can contact our Credit Control team directly on 09 373 6869 or email rates.collections@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
What was the outcome in advocating for increased financial support for displaced homeowners and tenants?
During our meetings with banks, they have assured us that they are committed to working with their customers experiencing financial hardship. We urge people to contact their mortgage provider to discuss what support is available.
We encourage residents displaced from their homes to recheck their eligibility for financial assistance through the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). You can contact MSD by calling 0800 559 009. You can find out more information on how MSD can support you by visiting workandincome.govt.nz.
From 4 September 2023, those people who left their homes because of extreme weather events earlier this year, will be able to receive interim financial support when their insurance payments for temporary accommodation run out. Find out more here aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/rent-assistance.
Do you have any further information about the property categorisation process?
Please check out content on OurAuckland for more information.
