Will unit titling affect my rates or other property charges?
Yes. Unit titling changes how the property is treated for ACT rates. Once the units plan is registered and the applicable rating period begins, rates become payable by the individual unit owners.
Residential units are also subject to a different rates structure from residential houses, including different fixed charges and rating factors. This means unit titling can change the amount of rates payable, although it does not necessarily mean your total rates will increase.
Other charges, such as land tax where applicable, may also be affected by the unit-title structure.
Reference: Rates Act 2004 – Part 5, Section 29 Unit subdivisions—rates – https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/View/a/2004-3/current/html/2004-3.html
Short Answer
Yes. Unit titling changes how ACT rates are assessed because each unit becomes separately rated under the residential unit rates structure. This can change the amount payable, but does not necessarily mean your total rates will increase.
Detailed Explanation
Yes. Registration of a units plan changes the basis on which ACT rates are imposed and assessed.
Under the Rates Act 2004, following registration of a units plan and from the applicable 1 July, rates become payable by the individual unit owners, and rates are imposed on each unit as though the unit were a separate parcel of land.
Residential units are also subject to the applicable unit rates structure, which differs from the rates structure for residential houses. Accordingly, unit titling can change the amount of rates and other applicable property charges payable, although it does not necessarily result in an overall increase.
No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.
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