Household Charge

What is 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 property to register and pay the household charge after the 1st of January.

How much is the charge?

The Household Charge is €100 per residential property.

How does it work?

Owners of residential property on the liability date of 1st of January 2012, subject to a limited number of exemptions and waivers (set out below), are liable to pay the household charge by 31st of March in order to avoid late payment penalties.

How can I pay the household charge?

Via www.householdcharge.ie using credit card/debit card.
Via registration form, cheque, postal order, draft, credit card/debit card and send to
Household Charge, PO Box 12168, Dublin 1

Can I pay by Cash?

Yes. Cash can only be used as a method of payment at Meath County Council Offices.
Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5.00pm.

From Tuesday 20th March until Saturday 31st March, Payment Offices at Meath County Council will be open Monday to Friday from 9.00am – 7.00pm and Saturdays from 10.00am – 3.00pm. In Navan extended opening only applies to Payments Office, County Hall, Railway St.

Where can I get a form?

Forms available at www.householdcharge.ie, Meath County Council Offices, your Local Library or Post Office.

Is there an Administration Fee if not paying on Line?

There is no administration fee.

Does the charge apply to a Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR)

Yes. There is no waiver or exemption for NPPRs.

What are the penalties for Non Payment?

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.

In addition, 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.

What is needed to complete the Registration Form?

Part A. PPSN

Part B. First Name, Surname , Correspondence Address and Phone No/Mobile No/
Email address .

Part C. Security Question to be filled in otherwise LGMA will not deal with queries over the phone about particular accounts.

Part D. If property is same as correspondence address only tick box, and fill in Property Type.
Part D. If applying for a waiver, tick the relevant one, no other information or documentation is required. The processing bureau will check it out.
Part D. If registering another property do so in this section.

Part E. Form must be signed.

Part F. Only applies to those paying by a method other than cash. Ensure details are filled in, any cheques, drafts or postal orders are made out to Household Charge in the case of credit/debit card payments ensure Cardholder signature is signed.

What are the exemptions from liability to pay the household charge?

Residential properties that are part of the trading stock of a business and have not been sold or been the source of any income since construction,

Residential property vested in a Minister of the Government or the Health Service Executive,
Residential property vested in a housing authority, including property where households are purchasing their homes under the Shared Ownership Scheme and where the local authority still retains an ownership stake,
Voluntary and co-operative housing,
Residential property to which commercial rates apply that is wholly used as a dwelling,
Residential property owned by a charity or comprised in a discretionary trust, and
Residential property where a person has to leave their house due to long-term mental or physical infirmity (e.g. a person that has moved into a nursing home).

"Long term mental or physical infirmity" is defined in the legislation as an infirmity requiring the person to vacate the property in which he/she had been dwelling for a continuous period of more than 12 months and that is certified as such by a registered practitioner.

What are the waivers from payment of the household charge?

Owners of residential property entitled to mortgage interest supplement
Owners of residential property located in prescribed unfinished housing estates under categories 3 or 4 (see Unfinished Housing Estates section for more detail)

Please note that waiver claims must be made on the registration form and sent to the address above. Persons who make false or misleading declarations in making a claim for a waiver will be liable to penalties under the legislation.

I own a property that is not suitable for occupation, am I liable?

No. However, there is a form available from Meath County Council which will assist in determining if it is actually suitable for occupation or not. The real question is could someone live in it?

Is a house let as one unit to a number of occupants liable for the household charge?

Yes, the charge is €100 for the dwelling.

I own a mobile home. Is this liable for the household charge?

No. A mobile home is not liable for the household charge.

Unfinished Housing Estates What is an Unfinished Housing Estate Waiver?

A person who, on 1 January 2012, is an owner of a residential property in an unfinished development contained in the prescribed list is entitled to a waiver from payment of the household charge in 2012. This prescribed list consists only of developments under Categories 3 and 4.

Category 3: a receiver has not been appointed and the developer is still in place but effectively inactive; and
Category 4: the development has been effectively abandoned and is posing serious problems for residents.

If you have a query in relation to the estates which qualify for the waiver, please contact Meath County Council on 046-9097500

Who is liable to pay the charge where a property is jointly owned?

Liability falls on all co-owners but payment by any one co-owner discharges the liability of all co-owners.

Above is general information, for further information visit www.householdcharge.ie or contact Locall 1890357357 / 046-9097456 or email householdcharge@meathcoco.ie