Pay up or lose it: Dozens of homes in council rates blitz

This property in Ashmore is on the list created by the Gold Coast Council for Thursday’s auction.

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Dozens of homes have been listed for forced auctions in a mega blitz over rates that were unpaid for at least three years, sparking desperate homeowners to scramble to save them.

Gold Coast City Council listed 32 homes for online auction at 10 am on Thursday, March 26, with the properties to be sold “as-is,” with no guarantees on condition or vacant possession – which sparked a rush over them.

Among them are million-dollar apartments and multimillion dollar homes in a city that is now the second most expensuve to buy into in the country, behind Sydney.

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A Carrara townhouse is on the list for sale, with estimates showing it is worth about $1.8m.

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“Council has resolved to sell land because overdue rates and charges have remained unpaid for a period longer than allowed under Section 140(1)(c) of the Local Government Regulation 2012,” the council said.

The regulation allows council to force the sale of a property after at least three years of unpaid rates. The action comes after repeated attempts to contact owners failed.

“Despite making reasonable enquiries and attempts to serve the notice on the owner, council does not know, or is uncertain about, the owner’s current address,” it said.

Of the 32 properties originally listed, 21 have been withdrawn from sale after homeowners scrambled to make arrangements to settle overdue rates and charges, but that still leaves 11 properties scheduled for auction on Thursday.

The remaining homes will be sold via a live online auction, with all bidders having to register and be approved by council beforehand.

Buyers must pay a $5,000 deposit immediately upon executing the contract, secure vacant possession themselves, and conduct their own due diligence. No inspections will be provided.

All sales are unconditional.

11 properties GCC still has for sale on Thursday:

13/901 Medinah Avenue, Robina QLD 4226

12/2964 Gold Coast Highway, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217

9/28-32 Golden Palms Court, Ashmore QLD 4214

3501A-B/3400-3420 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217

2901/4 Como Crescent, Southport QLD 4215

204/11 Andrews Street, Southport QLD 4215

8 Uplands Drive, Parkwood QLD 4214

7 Hirono Court, Parkwood QLD 4214

10 Birigun Street, Mermaid Waters QLD 4218

16/77-95 Bamboo Avenue, Benowa QLD 4217

1 Meadowview Drive, Carrara QLD 4211

(Source: Gold Coast City Council)