The Household Charge

The Household Charge is an annual charge introduced by the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 which is payable by owners of residential property. It is a matter for owners of residential properties to register and pay the Household Charge on or after the 1st of January 2012.

As set out in the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011, liability to pay the charge is determined on the basis of ownership of the property in question on a single day each year. This date, which is called the "liability date", is the 1st of January. The charge must be paid within three months (31st March) of the liability date in order to avoid late payment penalties.

For 2012, the Household Charge is €100 per residential property and it must be paid by 31st March 2012.

An owner of a residential property who does not pay a Household Charge or an instalment thereof by the due date will be subject to (1) LATE PAYMENT FEES and (2) LATE PAYMENT INTEREST.

(1) LATE PAYMENT FEES

The late payment fee to apply in the case of a Household Charge paid:

• not later than 6 months after the due date, is 10% of the amount outstanding;
• later than 6 months and not later than 12 months after the due date, is 20 % of the amount outstanding; or
• later than 12 months after the due date, is 30 % of the amount outstanding.

(2) LATE PAYMENT INTEREST

Late payment interest of 1% per month or part thereof will apply to unpaid amounts.

Furthermore, both the €100 charge and any accumulated late payment fee will be a charge against the property concerned and will continue to be such for twelve years after the charge or late payment penalties concerned became due. Any Household Charges or late payment penalties due on a residential property will have to be discharged, in full, before a transfer or sale of the property can be completed.

At SCK Group, we will pay your Household Charge for 1 year for all new properties managed by us. (Cannot to be used in conjunction with any other offer)