Forced sale if rates debt is not cleared

The council endorsed the forced sale of the property at last week’s council meeting.

The report passed by the council members said the property had not had a zero balance sine June 2003.

In 2011, the City was contacted by the owner’s daughter, who told them that her parents were no longer living in Australia.

She entered into a payment arrangement on behalf of her parents, but it was short-lived with only four payments of $500 made.

Since then, the City and external debt recovery agents have not been able to contact the daughter.

City of South Perth Mayor Sue Doherty said the decision was made because all other debt collection attempts had been ‘fully exhausted’.

‘The City is required to follow the local government guidelines for possession of land for recovery of Rrates and service charges,’ she said.

‘The first step is to serve a statutory notice requiring payment.’

The owner has three months to settle the debt in full before the property can be disposed of by auction.