First home builders encouraged to apply for $5000 rates remission

Rates Remissions Forms – Click Here

1 May 2018, Re-posted from WCC Website:

Wellington City Council is encouraging those buying or building their first home to take advantage of a $5000 rates remission, if they fit the criteria below, says Mayor Justin Lester.

First time building rates remission

The remission is available to those buying a newly constructed home, an apartment off the plans or for those building their own home. It is only for first home buyers.

“This is for Wellingtonians wanting to buy their first house, and to encourage first-home buyers to think about making our beautiful city their home,” the Mayor says.

“As the leaders of this city, it’s important the Council is doing something tangible to help people own their own homes and to incentivise new construction supply in Wellington.

“Together with Kiwisaver Homestart grants, a qualifying individual could be entitled to $15,000, or a couple up to $25,000.”

The remission, which will reduce the amount you have to pay in a rates year, was approved by the Council last year and applications are now open for the first round of rebates in the rating year beginning on July 1, 2018.

The Council has received 18 applications to date, and those fitting the criteria have until 30 June 2018 to apply for a remission in the 2018/19 financial year.

“We know there are more out there and I encourage all those buying or building a first home to check if they are eligible,” he says.

“For every remission we give, we know that’s another person, or family, who are choosing to put their roots down here and contribute to Wellington for decades to come.”

The Council’s Housing Portfolio Leader, Councillor Brian Dawson, says the rebate is one of a suite of tangible things the Council is doing to think outside the box.

“Housing can’t just be left to fix itself, so we need to be innovative,” Cr Dawson says.

“We’ve developed an affordability tool to ensure fairness, we’re working on CBD conversions, we’re partnering with the Government to tackle homelessness and in the coming months the public will see more work we’ve been doing as we finalise our 10-Year Plan.”

Please see the link below for more details