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Your gross rental value (GRV) is the gross rental income that could reasonably be expected if you were to rent out the property. We use this to calculate your sewerage and/or drainage service charges. This figure is provided to us by Landgate Property Valuation Services

 

You'll find your property's GRV on the back of your bill under 'Rateable value'. 

 

Example of GRV on bill

The calculation of the GRV is based on many factors, including:

Residential 

  • Location
  • Age and size of the property
  • Extra facilities (including carports or below ground pools)
  • Proximity to services (schools, public transport, shops, main roads etc.)

Business 

  • Location
  • Age, building area and construction materials 
  • Street exposure and property access
  • Proximity to main arterial roads and primary commercial precincts. 

How does GRV apply to my service charges? 

  • For residential properties, we use the property’s GRV to calculate your sewerage and metro drainage service charges.
  • For regional areas, sewerage service charges are based on the property's GRV multiplied by a rate in the dollar.
  • We use the GRV of business properties to calculate metro drainage service charges.  

Why has my property's GRV changed? 

Landgate is responsible for revaluing properties and decides when to revaluate. All properties within a local government are revalued at the same time.

  • Properties in the metropolitan area are revalued every 3 years
  • Regional revaluations occur every 3 to 6 years, depending on the local government

Assessments may happen sooner for properties with recent additions or improvements or if the land reverts to a vacant lot.

GRV calculation examples

Sewerage service charge

This is an annual charge that covers the cost of safely removing, treating and discharging the water that your household uses, including your kitchen, laundry, bathroom and toilet (wastewater). It also covers the cost of maintaining the pipe network that transports wastewater. 

How is the sewerage charge calculated? 

Sewerage charges are based on the property's Gross Rental Value (GRV) multiplied by a rate in the dollar. The rate in the dollar changes as the GRV increases.

Sewerage charge in the metro area is calculated by:
GRV x rate in the dollar
First $20,000 of GRV is 4.446 cents in $ GRV
Over $20,000 of GRV is 3.855 cents in $ GRV

The minimum annual charge for sewerage is $481.14 for the 2024-25 financial year for properties with a low GRV.

For example, a property with a GRV of $10,000 would have a sewerage charge of:
$10,000 x $0.04446 = $444.60

A property with a GRV of $24,000 would have a sewerage charge of:
($20,000 x $0.04446) + ($4,000 x $0.03855) = $1,043.40

Drainage service charge

This charge helps cover the cost of removing excess storm water where additional drainage is required.

Water Corporation main drains exist in addition to Local Government Authority infrastructure. They are there to provide extra support in preventing flooding and removing excess storm water.

How is the drainage charge calculated?

Residential drainage charges are based on the property’s gross rental value (GRV). Only properties in declared drainage catchments are charged for drainage. 

Your drainage charge is calculated by:
GRV x rate in the dollar ($0.00588 per dollar for residential properties)
The minimum annual charge for drainage is $135.65, for the 2024-25 financial year.

For example, a property with a rateable value of $25,000 would have a drainage service charge of:
$25,000 x $0.00588 = $147.00

Sewerage service charge

This is an annual charge that covers the cost of safely removing, treating and discharging the water that your household uses, including your kitchen, laundry, bathroom and toilet (wastewater). It also covers the cost of maintaining the pipe network that transports wastewater. 

How is the sewerage charge calculated?

Sewerage charges for regional areas are based on the property's Gross Rental Value (GRV) multiplied by a rate in the dollar. Each town has a different rate in the dollar as the cost of providing sewerage services to country locations varies.

You can find the sewerage charge that applies to you on the back of your bill. The minimum annual sewerage charge is $481.14 and the maximum charge is $1,313.55 for the for the 2024-25 financial year.

Drainage service charge

Regional properties do not get charged for drainage.

Drainage service charges

Drainage charges are based on your property’s Gross Rental Value (GRV), or rateable value, supplied by the Valuer General and only apply to businesses in the Declared Drainage Area in the metro area. The charge is calculated by multiplying a rate (cents in the dollar) by the rateable value.

The drainage charge is 0.377 cents for each dollar of the rateable value.

For example, a property with a rateable value of $60,000 would have a drainage service charge of $60,000 x $0.00377 = $226.20.

Annual increases in business drainage service charges are capped at 10% plus CPI, e.g. 12.5% for 2024-25. The minimum drainage charge for metro business properties is $136.63.

Frequently asked questions

GRV is deemed to be fairest and most equitable way to use a property as a value. The use of the GRV to determine sewerage and drainage prices is prescribed by legislation.

Customers have the right to object to the valuation provided. Please visit Landgate’s website to read more about lodging an objection.

For residential vacant land and other specialised properties, the rateable value is based on:
• 3% of the property's capital value, or
• The amount the land and any buildings would reasonably receive if sold