SENIORS can apply right now for land tax exemption on the unit where they live.

The exemption was announced in the House of Assembly last week by Finance Minister Paula Cox.

An official at the Office of the Tax Commissioner explained the criteria seniors must meet to qualify for the exemption.

"You must be aged 65 or over, you must be the owner and occupier of the unit in question and you must be Bermudian," she said.

It made no difference whether the applicant was retired or still working, she added.

However, seniors will still have to pay land tax on other units they own but do not occupy.

Current land tax rates are based on an annual rental values (ARV) assessment made in 1999. A new ARV list, which will reflect the substantial increases in property values since, is due to come into effect on December 31 and so land tax rates are expected to rise substantially in turn.

Age Concern's executive director Claudette Fleming has praised the exemption as a step in the right direction.

"We know from the surveys that have been done that there are a large number of senior citizens in Bermuda who own their own homes," Ms Fleming said.

"Irrespective of what people earned when they were working, most people are on fixed income when they retire. To own a house is one thing, but to maintain it on a fixed income is something else."

Some seniors who rent their homes did not get such good news on the financial front this week with confirmation that Bermuda Housing Trust (BHT) is to raise its rents.

The BHT provides affordable housing for seniors in four locations around the island. Some tenants marched on Parliament when the increases were first mooted.

One senior who went public on the issue this week revealed her rent was to rise from $305 a month to $650.

Ms Fleming said she had spoken at length with BHT chairman Ronald Simmons and that Age Concern believed "the BHT had been sincere in its efforts to exercise due diligence in the decision-making process to determine whether rent increases should be made.

"Notwithstanding our belief in the sincerity of the decision making process in this regard, Age Concern's position is that rents should not have been increased as a first resort in resolving escalating maintenance costs.

"We do however, acknowledge and support the role of the Rent Commissioner in determining whether the deliberations of the BHT are justified. Therefore, having had public confirmation by the Rent Commissioner that these increases are in fact justified, we encourage all stakeholders to work with the BHT and its residents to ensure that these seemingly necessary increases have as minimal an impact as possible."

Age Concern has agreed to support BHT fund-raising efforts in future.

Asked to put forward another way in which Government could give seniors a rapid boost, Ms Fleming suggested help with the cost of drugs for all, not just some.

"There is a $1,000 allowance for prescription drugs for seniors on HIP (the Government Health Insurance Policy)," she said. "We would like to see extended to private health insurance policyholders as well."

Forms to apply for the land tax exemption are available from the Office of the Tax Commissioner in the F.B. Perry Building, at 40 Church Street. Seniors can apply in person at the office or ask by phone for a form to be mailed out to them. The direct line for the land tax department is 297-7537.