Masadal

Hi,I had a look with the search bar but i am struggling to find any info about the OZ equivalent of council tax(or whatever it is called).Any details or price examples would be appreciated muchos.Thanks.

NealMartin

In Brisbane they still use rates which are based on property value I think - depending on size of house, in the inner Brisbane area these will be approx $400 - $500 per quarter for a 3 bed house. Perhaps the particular city council website will give you more info. Water charges are included in your rates bill but it is metered.

ABCDiamond

Two house Rates examples, both in the Redlands (SE of Brisbane):
$462.30 per quarter for house value $500k
$439.18 per quarter for houise value $300K

The breakdown for the $439.18 one is:
General rates $166.04
Environmental Charge $15.00
Landfill Remediation charge $3.00
Waste & Recycling Service $43.75
State Gov Fire Levy $32.20
Water Access $43.45
Water Useage $53.30 (ave: 1,181 litres per day)
Sewerage $109.06
Totals $ 465.80
less discount for payment on time of $-26.62



E&OE

Masadal

Thanks very much for the info,i appreciate you taking the time to give such a detailed reply.Seems compared to UK rates the OZ version is pretty favourable.

ABCDiamond

Here's one for Penrith Council NSW, (Sydney Area)
House value about $450,000
Council rate $183.99 per quarter
Waste Charge $ 56.55 per quarter
(This council does not itemise other services )

Water is charged by the local Water company
Water Service $ 19.42
Sewerage Service $ 86.68
Water usage $48.02 (527 litres per day - NSW has severe water restrictions)

Total $394.66 per quarter
Comparable price with same water usage as the Brisbane house would be $454.27. So pretty similar pricing in both areas.

ABCDiamond

In case you are interested in Electricity costs, here is a comparison I did some time back:

My Electric Bills when in Sydney:
A 3 bed house, one person at home all day working on the computer.
(These bills are every 2 months)
07/11/01 - 27/12/01 $ 183.00 Summer use, Cooling on most of the time
27/12/01 - 26/02/02 $ 175.00
26/02/02 - 02/05/02 $ 151.56 Didnt use it as much in this period
02/05/02 - 02/07/02 $ 318.09
07/07/02 - 04/09/02 $ 339.76 Winter Use, heating on most of the time
04/09/02 - 05/11/02 $ 173.38

So thats about $1,340 for a 12 month period

That is with not scrimping on the use of Cooling or Heating, and we had 2 air cons in the house.

12 months in QLD has been (these bills are every 3 months)
Feb-03 $238.20
May-03 $277.00
Aug-03 $267.35
Nov-03 $264.05 Total of $ 1,046.00, and this is for a much larger house, about twice the floor area, but with only 1 air conditioner in one bedroom.

PS: No pool in either house.
I posted this on Jan 12 2004 here: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=201880

Update on this years electric:
Feb-04 $344.40
May-04 $291.20
Aug-04 $312.30

Last 12 months total $1,211.95 ( I think we have 5 times the number of light bulbs than we had in NSW )

No Gas in either house.

editThese last few bills included the Ambulance levy of $22 per quarter

Masadal

Very interesting reading,much appreciated.We were considering buying a property with a pool,but the running costs ,water restrictions and maintenance are making us rethink that plan.Thanks again you,re a Diamond