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Rates and water balance enquiries

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Check your rates or water balance before you buy or sell a property. Find overdue charges and other account information.

Hands pointing at a laptop screen displaying water rates and balance information

Check rates and water balances

Rates and water accounts show the current balance and any money owing. You or your solicitor need to request the balance of your accounts when:

  • a property is bought or sold
  • the title of a property is being transferred.

A current rates balance enquiry provides:

  • address details
  • quarterly rates
  • property description
  • current financial position.

A water balance enquiry provides the current balance showing on your Urban Utilities account.

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Note

If you’re a conveyancing solicitor or agent, we recommend doing a full inspection of records search.

A full inspection of records search will provide broader financial information, including a rates position and any possible outstanding fees/charges owing to Council in relation to a property.

Looking for something else

Building plans and rdocuments

Rates and payments

Changing ownership

Make a rates balance enquiry

A rates balance enquiry confirms the balance of a property’s rates account. Rates balance enquiries:

  • state the status of the account
  • identify any arrears on the account.

When you buy or sell a property, you or your solicitor can submit a request before settlement. 

Use the online form to make a rates balance enquiry. 

To complete the form, you need:

  • the rates account number (located on the third page of your rates notice)
  • property details including lot number, plan type and plan number
  • ownership and settlement information.

After you complete the form, results are immediately available.

Make an enquiry

Water and wastewater balance enquiry

A water balance enquiry confirms the balance of a property’s water and wastewater account. 

Urban Utilities provides Brisbane with water and wastewater services. To check a property’s water balance:

Frequently asked questions

To check the balance of your water bill, get a copy, or set up a direct debit payment, phone Urban Utilities on 13 26 57 or visit Urban Utilities.

You need to make a rates or water balance enquiry before a property transfer settles. Learn more about rates and water balance enquiries, including how to submit an enquiry.

An online rates balance enquiry is free. 

Your solicitor or conveyancer typically obtain an online rates balance enquiry as part of the inspection of records process. 

In these circumstances, conveyance search fees apply.

For information on water balance enquiries including the cost, visit Urban Utilities.  

Yes, there are separate processes for rates and water balance enquiries.

Council manages rates, while Urban Utilities manages water provisions. 

There isn't a water bill calculator currently available for Brisbane.

To find out how your water bill is calculated, visit Urban Utilities.