Property Taxes
and Evaluation
Property Taxes
2023 Collection Roll
Property taxes are the primary source of revenue for the Town of Hampstead, and are used to finance all types of municipal activities, including road maintenance, snow removal, community events, garbage and recycling collection and a plethora of other services offered by the Town. Property tax bills are calculated based on the valuation of the property indicated on the invoice. Prepared and maintained by the Direction de l’évaluation foncière of the City of Montreal, the 2023-2024-2025 valuation role is currently in effect.
Hampstead’s general property tax rate varies according to property type. The majority of Hampstead’s properties fall within the «residual» category which is defined as buildings having less than six (6) dwelling units. There are two remaining categories apply to buildings with six or more dwelling units and serviced vacant lots.
In 2023, the municipal tax rates (per $100 of valuation) are:
Property Type | Mill Rate |
For residential properties containing 5 housing units or less | $0.7545 |
For apartment buildings with 6 or more units | $0.7545 |
Vacant lots | $1.5090 |
With a residential rate of $0.7545, the `average single-family dwelling’ will be assessed a 2023 Hampstead tax bill of $14,800. It must be stressed that this example reflects the impact of the taxation rates on the average single-family dwelling. Tax bill increases/decreases will vary depending upon the change in valuation of each individual property.
The Town of Hampstead endorses the use of water meters which allows for an equitable charge as it represents the actual (and personalized) services which have been received. A tariff is imposed and levied on any immovable entered on the property assessment roll for water consumed as measured by meter. The rates are per the schedule below.
Water consumption per imperial gallon
From | To | Min. | Rate per 1000G |
0 | 35 000 | $50.00 | N/A |
35 001 | 175 000 | $3.00 | |
175 001 | 245 000 | $6.00 | |
245 001 | unlimited | $8.00 |
The water tax bill is usually mailed out around the beginning of November (Note: the date may vary depending on the time required to obtain and analyze the meter readings).
Once a year, typically mid-August to end-September, an outside firm is contracted to visit Hampstead’s properties (employees will always wear photo I.D.) in order to obtain as many actual readings as possible. When their initial visit proves unsuccessful, response cards are left and a second visit is made at a different time of day in order to maximize positive results. Should these efforts still not yield the desired reading, another calling card with Hampstead’s coordinates is left in the mailbox. We encourage all residents to ensure that an actual reading be taken for purposes of accuracy in billing.
Should an actual reading not be available (or if any meter is found to be dysfunctional or broken), an estimate based on the historical average consumption of your property is calculated. However, if that same water consumption history proves unreliable, an estimate is calculated per the average consumption of the same building category.
Please note that, with respect to property transfers, the water tax bill is by law payable by the current owner even though the consumption may go back to the previous year’s reading. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you ensure with your notary that an adjustment calculation for water consumption has been made up to the sale date (n.b. Your notary should already have contacted us for this information).
Should circumstances occur where a water meter breaks due to water freezing inside of it and needs to be replaced, a charge based on the meter’s diameter is invoiced. It should be noted that since all water meters are installed inside a (heated) property, a meter should normally not freeze.
The Town’s evaluator is Le service d’évaluation foncière de Montréal and can be reached at (514) 280-3825 for questions relating to the evaluation roll or discussions about individual property evaluations.
Municipal evaluation (french only)
Evaluation Period | Downloadable PDF (Caution: Large File) | Online Search (French Only) |
---|---|---|
2023-2024-2025 | Download | Online Access |
2020-2021-2022 | Online Access | |
2017-2018-2019 | Online Access | |
2014-2015-2016 | Online Access | |
2011-2012-2013 | Online Access | |
2007-2008-2009-2010 | ||
2004-2005-2006 |
A new evaluation roll is deposited every three years in the month of September. It represents the value of a given immovable at a given point in time based on the concepts of comparable property selling prices and current market replacement cost (adjusted for depreciation). Given the magnitude of the dossiers treated, the summer period 1 ½ years preceding its starting date is used as a base (Note: the base period was summer 2021 for the new roll which starts January 2023). The current roll is for three years from 2023 to 2025.
There is a prescribed form available at montrea.ca/evaluation-fonciere which must be filled out (prior to April 30th of the first year of the deposit of a new roll) in order to request an administrative revision of the valuation of your property. The municipal evaluator must then send a written reply to your request, and, should an agreement not be reached between both parties further proceedings are possible through the Tribunal administratif du Québec (which is also subject to prescribed forms, fees and deadlines).
It is also possible to request an administrative revision following an adjustment to the evaluation of your property (e.g. major building modifications) within 60 days of the mailing date of the notice.
Notwithstanding an ongoing evaluation contestation procedure, the tax bill has to be paid in full as originally issued. Non-payment will carry interest charges per the applicable due dates. However, should a decrease in evaluation be successfully obtained, by law, the Town must reimburse full capital plus interest on overpayments made.
Review of the municipal assessment roll: new application form
Effective August 14, 2020, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued a new Request for Review form. As of this date, all new applications must be completed using this new form. The old version will no longer be accepted.
For any billing in excess of $300 the amount due is split in two equal installments, with the second instalment coming due 90 days after the due date of the first instalment, which itself is due 30 days after the invoice date. The 2023 annual tax bill was mailed out January 2023. All other adjustment billings and/or property transfer duties get mailed out during the course of the year when the certificates (received from Montreal’s evaluation service) get processed.
The due dates for the annual 2023 tax bill are:
Instalment | Due Date |
First Instalment | Febuary 20, 2023 |
Second Instalment | May 23, 2023 |
Property tax invoices are payable:
- Electronically through your bank
For more information on how you can pay through your bank, please consult the financial institution’s website. Use the 18 digits of the matricule number found on the upper right-hand corner of your invoice, without hyphens. - By mail. Attach the appropriate payment stub to your cheques, made payable to the Town of Hampstead.
- In cash, by cheque or debit card at Hampstead Town Hall (5569 Queen Mary Road). This option is not available until further notice (suspended during the pandemic).
Please take note that credit card payments are not accepted for the payment of property taxes.
Your payment will be credited to your account on the day of its receipt by the Town of Hampstead or on the date shown on the cheque if it is postdated. If you pay by mail, please take the delivery time into consideration. Every payment received after the due date carries interest charges.
Interest on Overdue Payments: If a payment is not made by the due date, only the amount of the missed payment is payable, and not the entire tax bill. As indicated on your property tax invoice, an interest rate of 12% per year will be charged. The interest applicable therefore only applies to the amount of the missed payment.
The application of Bill 22 in 2009 resulted in a revised tax structure, meaning that you receive ONE PROPERTY TAX BILL, sent from the Town of Hampstead, for local services as well as for agglomeration (island-wide) services. The rates vary according to property type. For any information regarding the Agglomeration charge, residents may phone 311.