The Armidale Regional Council auctioned more than 40 properties on Friday to recover thousands of dollars’ worth of unpaid rates.
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Forty-one properties went under the hammer at the Armidale Town Hall. Twenty-nine properties were sold, raising $246,005.
Council had hoped to raise $513,560 owed by way of outstanding rates, plus sales cost.
Amounts ranged from $65,000 for residential land in Armidale to $105 for vacant farmland in Dumaresq.
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“It’s a very long process to get to this stage,” Council’s Chief Executive Officer Susan Law said. “It definitely is a last resort.”
Council had sent several requests to property owners to pay outstanding rates and charges, or to come to an arrangement to settle the debt.
“If Council does not act to recoup the outstanding amounts, it is unfair on ratepayers who pay their rates in full and on time,” Ms Law said.
All NSW councils have a similar policy to recover debts for unpaid rates.
The properties included a tenanted property at 27 Duval Street; a farm shed at 475A Grafton Road; and a shipping container / office in 36 Uralla Road, all in Armidale; and a stone cottage in Whams Road, Llangothlin.
The other properties – including three in Guyra – were all vacant blocks of land.
The remaining dozen properties are being listed with real estate agents Richardson & Wrench to be sold by private treaty.
Council is waiting for them to come back with a marketing plan.
When the auction was announced in May, 59 properties were listed for sale. These 18 properties were removed as Council liaised with the owners.
Ms Law advised property owners falling behind in paying rates to contact Council. Payment plans can be put in place, or, in some cases, owners can apply for hardship rate relief.
Email council@armidale.nsw.gov.au, or phone 1300 136 833 (24 hours).