Wanneroo, Armadale, and Chittering Shift to GRV for Rates: What It Means for Residents

Wanneroo, Armadale, and Chittering Shift to GRV for Rates: What It Means for Residents

Effective April 30, 2026, the City of Wanneroo will determine rates based on the gross rental value (GRV) of designated land.

What happened

Wanneroo, Armadale, and Chittering are updating their rating systems. According to recent notices in the WA Government Gazette, Wanneroo's change takes effect April 30, 2026. Armadale will also switch to GRV on the same date. The Shire of Chittering's change is slightly earlier, starting April 16, 2026. These decisions mean these councils will assess property values based on their potential rental income, rather than other valuation methods.

What this means for you

If you own property in Wanneroo, Armadale, or Chittering, your rates calculation will likely change. GRV considers the potential rental income of your property, meaning if your property could command a higher rent, your rates could increase. Conversely, if your property has a lower rental potential, your rates might decrease. It's important to note that this doesn't necessarily mean rates will automatically rise or fall—the overall impact depends on how your property's GRV compares to others in the council area. This could particularly affect property owners who have significantly improved their properties or those whose properties have a high rental demand. For additional information on how GRV is calculated and how it affects rates, see [Information on how GRV is calculated and how it affects rates].

What this means for WA

This shift indicates a potential trend among WA councils to adopt GRV as a standard for property valuation. This could lead to greater consistency in how rates are calculated across different regions. However, it also raises questions about the fairness of GRV for owner-occupiers who do not rent out their properties. The decisions by Wanneroo, Armadale, and Chittering could prompt other councils to re-evaluate their rating systems, potentially leading to widespread changes in how local government revenue is generated. This follows a similar decision by Serpentine Jarrahdale; see [Recent story: Serpentine Jarrahdale Sticks with GRV for Rates: What It Means for Residents].

The numbers

Three specific gazette entries confirm these changes: "Basis of Rates — City of Wanneroo," effective April 30, 2026; "Basis of Rates — City of Armadale," also effective April 30, 2026; and "Basis of Rates — Shire of Chittering," effective April 16, 2026. The Energy Safety Levy Notice 2026 sets a total levy amount of $11,040,000, showing the scale of financial considerations within WA governance. The two-year extension for land exemption in Myalup, expiring May 4, 2028, under the Mining Act 1978, highlights ongoing resource management decisions. These figures illustrate the variety of information published in the Gazette.

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