Community & Business
5 March, 2025
Unpaid rates lead to property sales
PROPERTIES that have fallen behind in rates and charges payments have been scheduled to go under the hammer in July by the Mareeba Shire Council.
At its last meeting, council approved the move after noting the properties had been in arrears for “three years and longer”, and there had been “considerable time” to address the issue.
Council currently has 14 properties listed for sale.
Mayor Angela Toppin said the timeline for the sales would be a notice of intent, sent out on 3 March, then a further three months would elapse to give property owners time to settle the issue.
Auction notices would be issued on 3 July and auctions conducted on 23 July.
Council had “made every attempt to recover the unpaid rates according to agenda notes, “with “no success to date”.
A council officer told the meeting that warning letters had been sent out late last year, so owners were “well aware” of pending action.
As well as having the three months to settle, property owners have up to the date of the auction to pay debts.
“Nine times out of 10, the ones with mortgages, the banks will step in,” the officer said.
Tablelands Regional Council is also looking to sell seven properties which owe a total of $117,135 in rates.
