Rates are Council’s main source of income required to deliver services and maintain the infrastructure required by our community.
In setting the rates for the financial year, Council considers the current economic climate, specific issues faced by the community, the impact of rates on the community and its Community Plan, which determines:
At the City of Unley we have a minimum rate, which ensures all ratepayers contribute towards the provision of basic services at a reasonable level.
NOTICE is hereby given that the Corporation of the City Unley in accordance with section 167(2)(a) of the Local Government Act 1999 at a meeting held on 25 June 2018 adopted for the year ending 30 June 2019 the Government assessment of capital value being $14,534,176,840 as detailed in the valuation roll prepared by the Valuer-General in relation to the areas of the Corporation of the City of Unley and hereby specifies 1 July 2018 as the day as and from which such valuation shall become and be the valuations of the Council.
NOTICE is hereby given that at a meeting held on 25 June 2018 the Corporation of the City of Unley in accordance with section 156(1)(a) of the Local Government Act 1999 declared differential general rates, based upon the capital value of the land subject to the rate, for the year ending 30 June 2019 as follows: (a) In respect to rateable land which is categorised by land use category 1 - Residential in Regulation 14 of the Local Government (General) Regulations 2013 as a prescribed permissible differentiating factor, a differential general rate in the dollar of 0.002459; (b) In respect to rateable land which is categorised by land use category 2 - Commercial-Shop, category 5- Industry Light, category 6 - Industry Other, category 7 - Primary Production, category 8 - Vacant Land and category 9 - Other in Regulation 14 of the Local Government (General) Regulations 2013 as prescribed permissible differentiating factors, a differential general rate in the dollar of 0.004959; and (c) In respect to rateable land which is categorised by land use category 3 - Commercial-Office and category 4 - Commercial-Other in Regulation 14 of the Local Government (General) Regulations 2013 as prescribed permissible differentiating factors, a differential general rate in the dollar of 0.005968. Pursuant to Section 158 of the Local Government Act 1999 the council fixed a minimum amount that shall be payable by way of rates on all rateable land within the whole of the Municipality for the year ending 30 June 2019 at $805.00 Pursuant to Section 154 to the Local Government Act 1999 and in respect to all rateable land within the City of Unley, a separate rate of in the dollar of 0.00009594 was declared as the Natural Resource Management Levy in accordance with the requirements of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004. Pursuant to Section 154 of the Local Government Act 1999, for the year ending 30 June 2019 the following differential Separate rates are declared on all rateable land based upon capital value of the land, subject to the rate as follows:
Present your rates notice at the City of Unley Civic Centre, 181 Unley Road, Unley SA 5061. Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm. Cash, EFTPOS and credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) accepted.
Phone our Customer Service Centre on 8372 5111, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm. Please have your rates notice available at the time of the call.
To request and authorise direct debit payments of your rates, please download and complete the request form below. Please ensure you have read, understood and agree with the terms and conditions on page 2 of the form. Please email your completed form to pobox1@unley.sa.gov.au or post to the City of Unley, PO Box 1, Unley SA 5061. Direct debits will remain in place until you advise the City of Unley that you wish for them to cease.
Telephone or Internet payment may be made through your participating financial institution. Contact your financial institution to register, quoting biller code 2238 and the customer reference number shown next to the BPay symbol on the payment slip.
Default in Payments If an instalment of rates is not paid on or before the date on which it falls due:
Please note a 2% fine will be applied to any instalment amount not paid by the due date. In any case where the default in payment of rates (including instalments) occurs, Council may without further notice commence proceedings for all amounts due. Recovery proceedings available to Council include:
The Local Government Act allows a Council to sell any property where rates have been in arrears for three years or more.
Please advise Council immediately if your details have changed. All changes of address must be submitted to Council in writing. Council cannot accept verbal notification over the phone.
You can advise your change of address by email, fax or mail.
Please include the old and new address, the assessment number for the property, and the date from which this change is effective.
For more information, please contact the Rates Department during business hours on 8372 5111.
The Cost of Living Concession (CLC) helps those on low or fixed incomes with their cost of living expenses. The CLC is payable per household, not per individual.
Eligibility is based on your living arrangements on 1 July. Eligibility for the CLC includes pensioners and low-income earners who are tenants. The CLC is means tested for self-funded retirees. Self-funded retirees earning more than $51,500 a single or $82,400 a couple will not be eligible.
All concession payments are made via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). You must provide your banking details to receive the concession.
If you have previously received a Cost of Living Concession payment and your living and/or income arrangements have not changed, you do not need to reapply. Visit the SA Government website to update your details or apply for a concession online.
To apply for a rate rebate for the 2018-2019 financial year, please download and complete the application form below. Forms can be returned to Council via email pobox1@unley.sa.gov.au or post to Rate Rebates, The City of Unley, PO Box 1, Unley SA 5061.
Recent changes to the Local Government Act provide the option for State Seniors Card holders to apply to postpone, on a long-term basis, part of their Council rates. The deferred amount is subject to a monthly interest charge, with the accrued debt being payable on the disposal or sale of the property. However, the debt may be paid at any earlier time at the ratepayer's discretion. A ratepayer who holds, or is in the process of applying for a State Seniors Card may apply for postponement of a portion of the Council rates payable on property they own or are buying. This applies if it is their principal place of residence. It is also a requirement that no other person other than their spouse has an interest as owner of the property.
Please phone the Rates Department on 8372 5111 to discuss your application and lodge your application form. This will provide an opportunity for you to obtain more information about the Postponement of Rates Scheme and the conditions that will apply, and for any questions or concerns you might have to be discussed.
Individual property values, upon which Council rates are based, are determined by the State Government's Office of the Valuer-General. If you are dissatisfied with the valuation made by the Valuer-General then you may object in writing, within 60 days of receiving the first annual rates notice, explaining the basis of your objection.
Please note:
Please note: rates are still due and payable by the due date even if an objection has been lodged
Written objections should be emailed to LSGObjections@sa.gov.au or mailed to:
The State Valuation Office can be contacted on 1300 653 346
Differential General Rates imposed by the Council are based on various Land Use Categories. These are determined at 1 July and therefor any change to the Land Use during the year will only be effective from the next rating year. Should you have any reason to believe that the Land Use Category applied to your account is incorrect, you may lodge a written objection with Council outlining the grounds upon which your objection is based. Objections must be submitted to Council within 60 days of receiving this notice. Rates are still due and payable by the due date even if an objection has been lodged.
Written objections should be emailed to pobox1@unley.sa.gov.au or mailed to:
The Natural Resources Levy is a State Government initiative. The City of Unley collects the regional levy on all ratable properties as part of the annual rates on behalf of the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board.
The levy is utilised only in accordance with the Board's approved plans which include flood control, wetland development, restoring rivers, Animal and Plant Control and community grants to groups or individuals who have 'adopted' a section of their local river or creek to beautify.
Council is obliged by legislation to collect the Levy on the behalf of the Board. Any unpaid Levy joins the normal collection process associated with Annual Rates. Fines will be charged on outstanding Levies.
For more information, contact the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board by calling 1300 764 489 or visit the Natural Resources SA website.
Residents are entitled to access the assessment book, which contains information about property owners within the City of Unley. Public access to the assessment book is available via the PC which is located in the foyer of the Civic Centre at 181 Unley Road, Unley SA 5061.
You are entitled to receive a printed extract from the assessment book for a fee of $3.30 per extract.
Information cannot be provided over the phone and the name of the applicant requesting information may be provided to the property owner/s.
In person by visiting the Civic Centre at 181 Unley Road, Unley SA 5061 where you can complete the Assessment Book Extract Application Form and pay the $3.30 fee associated with this request.
By email by downloading the form below and returning it to pobox1@unley.sa.gov.au. You must also pay the $3.30 fee associated with this request by providing your credit card details in the specified section on the form (a receipt for this transaction will be posted out to you).
By fax by downloading the form below and returning it to 8271 4886. You must also pay the $3.30 fee associated with this request by providing your credit card details in the specified section on the form (a receipt for this transaction will be posted out to you).
By mail by downloading the form below and returning it to PO Box 1, Unley SA 5061. You must also either provide your credit card details in the specified section on the form or by sending a cheque for the $3.30 fee associated with this request.
Residents who require the name and address of the owners of the adjoining properties to their own will need to apply in writing. There is no fee associated with this request.
For a fee (payable by credit card), Property Assist can provide you with individual property details, including:
A full title (Copy of the Certificate of Title) and a survey plan image are available through Planning and Property on the SA Government website.
A full Section 7 Search consists of three components:
Urgent searches will be given priority but Council will not guarantee a 24 hour turnaround. Council has the ability for you to request your Section 187 Searches online through Council’s website. This is a more efficient and quicker way to request your Council Searches. To request certificates electronically either login as a current user or register as a new user on our Online eServices webpage.