Change of details

It is important to keep your contact details up-to-date to receive your rates statements within the discount periods. An ownership transfer fee usually applies when the property title changes.

Change of address

You can change your address details for your Brisbane City Council rates notice with eMove's free change of address service. When you use the eMove service to change your address for any organisation, Council may receive a small commission.

Alternatively, you can change your address details for Brisbane City Council services by contacting Council.

Change of name

Marriage or deed poll

If you are a land-owner and you change your name by marriage or deed poll, Council needs a copy of the official certificate to change the rates ownership record.

You can get a copy of the certificate from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Companies

If a company owns the property and changes the registered company name, Council will need a copy of the change of name certificate.

You can obtain a copy of this certificate from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Death

If you have joint tenancy ownership of a property and your partner dies, your partner's name can be deleted from the rates notice after Council receives a copy of the death certificate.

This is not the case for tenants in common ownership. Council must receive official notification from the Department of Environment and Resource Management before altering details because ownership doesn't necessarily revert to the surviving partner.

Changing ownership details

The current land-owner is responsible for the rates debt.

When properties are bought or sold the rates need to be adjusted to reflect the new ownership.

Council alters its land ownership records after receiving official notification from the Department of Environment and Resource Management.

Council can't accept change of ownership details from the new owner.

Ownership transfer fee

Brisbane City Council charges an ownership transfer fee of $165 (valid from 1 July 2011) when a person buys a property.

Policy

The ownership transfer fee is included on the new owner's first rates notice after the Department of Environment and Resource Management advises Council of the change of ownership.

It is payable within 30 days after the account is issued.

A part-fee is payable when a purchaser buys a share of the property. For example, if a new owner purchases a one-quarter share of a property, 25% of the fee is payable.

Fee exemption

You can apply for exemption from the ownership transfer fee when:

• you buy your first home and live in it
• you buy your first block of land and build and occupy a home on the land within one year
• you change your name because you marry
• you transfer ownership to a former spouse/de facto/partner as part of a separation of assets – this only applies to first home buyers
• you include a spouse/de facto/partner as part of an amalgamation of assets – this only applies to first home buyers
• the property goes to surviving joint tenant/s on the death of other joint tenant/s
• there is a transfer of ownership where no money is exchanged
• there is a transfer as a result of a gift or through natural love and affection
• there is a transfer by consent/direction
• it is a public trustee transaction
• it is pursuant to a will intestacy – this occurs when ownership transfer was not made clear in a deceased owner's will
• an error in an earlier transfer of property needs to be fixed
• there is a transfer from a long-term lease to occupancy of a unit for the life of the person (freehold interest) – applies to residents of retirement villages registered with the State Justice Department

The following purchases are not exempt from payment of the ownership transfer fee:

• purchases made in the name of a trust
• purchases made in the name of a company

When you receive a bill for the ownership transfer fee, you have 12 months to apply for an exception by submitting an Ownership transfer fee exemption application - CC38 (PDF - 38kb).