How does Council define a Separately Used or Inhabited Part (SUIP)?

Council defines a SUIP in its Funding Impact Statement, published as part of the Annual or Long Term Plan each year.

Where rates are calculated on each SUIP of a rating unit, the following definitions will apply:

• A SUIP of a rating unit includes any portion inhabited or used by the owner / a person other than the owner, and who has the right to use or inhabit that portion by virtue of a tenancy, lease, licence, or other agreement.
• This definition includes separately used parts, whether or not actually occupied at any particular time, which are provided by the owner for rental (or other form of occupation) on an occasional or long-term basis by someone other than the owner.
• Any part(s) of a rating unit that is used or occupied by the ratepayer for more than one single use.
• For the purpose of this definition, vacant land and vacant premises offered or intended for use or habitation by a person other than the owner and usually used as such are defined as 'used'.
• For the avoidance of doubt, a rating unit that has a single use or occupation is treated as having one separately used or inhabited part.

A separately used habitable unit, flat, house, or apartment is defined as having a separate entrance, kitchen facilities and toilet/bathroom facilities. Kitchen means a room, portion of a room, or covered external area, equipped for the preparation of food, that is not included as part of the toilet/bathroom facilities and incorporates a plumbed sink.