Your rates help fund the services, facilities and infrastructure the Town provides for our community each year.
The amount you pay is based on two things:
Your property’s value, which is determined by the State Government’s Valuer-General through Landgate.
The Rate in the Dollar, which is set by Council each year as part of the annual budget.
In 2026/27, the rates yield for the Town has increased by 5.5%.
The Rate in the Dollar is calculated by dividing the amount of revenue the Town needs to raise through rates by the total value of all rateable properties across the Town. Your rates are then calculated by multiplying your property’s valuation by the Rate in the Dollar.
Your property’s valuation is set by Landgate Valuation Services. The Valuer General is the State Government authority responsible for valuing land across WA for rating and taxation purposes.
There are two types of property values used to calculate rates in the Town: Gross Rental Value (GRV) and Unimproved Value (UV).
Gross Rental Value (GRV) is the estimated annual rent your property would receive. Factors such as location, views, number of bedrooms, swimming pools, and the building’s age can affect your GRV. In the metropolitan area, the Valuer General conducts GRV revaluations every three years.
This year there has been a Town-wide GRV revaluation undertaken by Landgate. GRV revaluations are designed to ensure property valuations more accurately reflect current market rental values across the district.
Unimproved Value (UV) is the estimated value of the land as if it were vacant, with no improvements. Due to the Cambridge Endowment Lands Act 1920 (CEL Act), properties in the Endowment Lands Area (City Beach and parts of Floreat and Mount Claremont), rates are calculated based on the property’s UV. UV properties are revalued annually.
How does the GRV revaluation affect my rates?
While Council determines the total rates revenue to be raised, individual property rates are also affected by movements in valuations determined independently by the Valuer General.
As 2026/27 is a GRV revaluation year, changes in property valuations are expected to vary across the Town with some properties experiencing larger increases in value than others.
While Council has adopted a budget based on an overall 5.5% increase in rates revenue, it has also reduced the Rate in the Dollar to help offset the impact of the revaluation. This ensures that increases in property values do not automatically translate into equivalent increases in rates revenue for the Town.
Consequently, some properties may experience an increase greater than the proposed 5.5% average rate yield increase, while others may experience a smaller increase or even a reduction in rates payable. The impact on each property will depend on how its valuation has changed relative to other properties within the Town.
If you don’t agree with your valuation, you can lodge an objection with Landgate within 60 days of the issue date of your rates notice.
The Town remains committed to supporting ratepayers experiencing financial hardship. The Town’s Financial Hardship Policy provides a framework for assisting eligible ratepayers through tailored payment arrangements and other relief measures where appropriate. Ratepayers who may have difficulty paying their rates are encouraged to contact our Rates team as early as possible to discuss suitable support options.
The Town’s rating arrangements are unique due to the operation of the Cambridge Endowment Lands Act 1920 (CEL Act), which applies to 4,635 rateable properties within the Town. Consequently, the Town operates a dual rating system whereby properties within the ELA area are rated on UV, while the remainder of the district is rated on GRV.
Due to the legislative requirements of the CEL Act, the Town is unable to determine a standard increase in Rate in the Dollar, rather it must determine an increase in rates yield, including minimum payments.
An independent review of the Town’s rates setting framework was undertaken following the 2025/26 rates error.
In response to the preliminary findings of the review, the Town has implemented several new controls and processes to improve transparency, accountability and assurance, while providing a more robust and auditable framework for calculating and adopting rates.
These include the introduction of clearer procedures, better documentation and a standardised approach to approvals and audit trails. Controls over rates modelling and data validation, including independent checks of calculations, have been introduced along with more formal compliance reviews. Together, these changes ensure the rate setting process is more accurate, transparent and compliant.
Waste Services Charge: This annual charge is set by the Town for your rubbish bin collection services. It covers the weekly FOGO (green lid) bin, the fortnightly recycling (yellow lid) bin, and the general waste (red lid) bin.
In previous years, the Town has absorbed a portion of these costs through general rates to minimise the impact on individual waste charges while supporting the transition to enhanced recycling and the FOGO service. Costs for waste collection, processing and disposal continue to increase across Perth.
To help manage these cost pressures and maintain the long-term sustainability of waste services, the Town has adopted a combination of service adjustments and revised user charges. As part of this approach, the Verge Valet service will be reduced from three collections per annum to two collections per annum, comprising one green waste collection and one bulk waste collection.
An analysis of usage data in previous years indicated most residents are using two collections per year. A reduction in the number of collections across the Town ensures a fair distribution of the service, rather than having some residents subsidise additional collections for others. Residents will be able to access a third verge collection on a user pays arrangement and will continue to have access to tip passes as an alternative disposal option, providing flexibility in the management of household green waste and bulk waste throughout the year.
Pool or Spa Inspection: This is an annual charge imposed by the Town on property owners with a pool or spa. It covers the cost of inspecting your pool or spa fence or other barriers every four years. If you no longer have a pool or spa on your property, please contact us to let us know.
Emergency Services Levy: This levy is charged to all property owners in Western Australia to fund fire and emergency services. Local Governments collect the levy on behalf of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, which then distributes the funds to emergency services across WA. It is expected that this year the ESL will also increase by around 5%.
What can I do if I don't agree with the value applied to my property?
A property owner may lodge an objection against the valuation of a property with Landgate within 60 days of the date of issue of a rates notice.
For information on how your values are calculated and how to lodge an objection, please visit Landgate’s website at www.landgate.wa.gov.au/valuations or call Landgate Customer Service on (08) 9273 7373 or write to Landgate Valuation Services PO Box 2222, Midland 6936.
Please note: Rates must be paid by the due date of the rate notice, irrespective of whether an objection has been lodged. If your objection is successful, the rates will be reassessed. Any credit that results from this reassessment will either be allocated to any balance outstanding or can be refunded.
How is ESL calculated?
The Emergency Services Levy (ESL) is calculated by multiplying a property's Gross Rental Value (GRV) by the ESL Category Rate in the dollar (as determined by Department of Fire & Emergency Services).
For more information about the ESL visit the DFES website.
How is the installment charge calculated?
The pay by installment options attracts a charge which is calculated in two parts:
- Part 1 is an administration fee of $15.00 per instalment notice issued;
- Part 2 is interest of 5.5% per annum calculated on GRV or UV rates charges only on the installment amount due once the first installment is paid.
Is interest charged for late payment?
Yes. Late payment interest of 11% per annum, accruing daily, is charged on rates and/or service charges that remain unpaid after the due date(s).
What can I do if I can't pay in full?
Special payment arrangements are available to customers who are not able to pay in full or by an installment option.
Direct Debit arrangements can be made by either fortnightly or monthly payments from a nominated bank account or payment arrangement where the payment schedule and payment method are set by you.
An administration fee of $64 is charged for payment arrangements, and penalty interest will apply on the outstanding balance until the account is paid in full.
To apply for an arrangement, please complete the appropriate application form below and return to the Town.
Direct Debit Application Form(PDF, 389KB)
Payment Arrangement Application Form(PDF, 564KB)
What happens if I build or renovate?
When you make changes to your property the Valuer General may revalue the property and advise the Town the new valuation and an effective date for the new valuation. An amended rate notice, called an interim rate notice, is then issued.
Examples of where your valuation would be amended include:
- a new building has been constructed;
- a pool has been installed;
- a new room has been added; or
- a property has been demolished.
The Town will usually receive an interim valuation from the Valuer General within a few months of the completion of the works.
My property is in the Endowment Lands Area (City Beach, parts of Floreat and Mount Claremont), why haven't my rates increased/decreased as per the published % change?
There are certain nuances to the system of rating in the Town of Cambridge, as a result of the Cambridge Endowment Lands Act 1920 (the "Act"). The Act covers areas within City Beach, Floreat and Mount Claremont and stipulates the method to be used by the Town to calculate local government rates in the Endowment Lands Area (ELA).
The application of the Act as it pertains to the rating methodology can result in significant variations to the general rate changes experienced by individual property owners within the ELA - some greater than others.
The nuances of this rating methodology, prescribed by the Act, are explained below:
- Your property is located within the area of the Town covered by the Cambridge Endowment Lands Act 1920.
- The Act states the method to be used by the Town to calculate local government rates in the ELA.
- In metropolitan Perth, Local Governments typically apply a methodology which is based on a property's Gross Rental Value (GRV). The GRVs are reviewed by the Valuer General's Office every three (3) years.
- However, the Act stipulates that in the ELA, the Unimproved Value (UV) of the Land is to be used to calculate local government rates. The UV is reviewed by the Valuer General annually.
- The methodology contained within the Act requires the Town to initially calculate the total rates able to be raised from properties within the ELA, as if they were rated on a GRV basis. This is the point at which the Town applies the % change. The Act then requires a recalculation (reapportionment) of rates using the UV of the property, to yield the same amount from the ELA, in total.
- Effectively, the recalculation reapportions the rates between neighbouring properties within the Endowment Lands Area, and can result in significant variations for the individual property owner. The application of the Act does not provide the Town of Cambridge with any more or any less rates. Property owners in the Non Endowment Lands areas of West Leederville, Wembley, Jolimont, and parts of Floreat, who are rated on a Gross Rental Value (GRV) basis, should experience changes in line with the published % change.