What happens if you don’t pay your rates (Internal)

Penalties for unpaid rates will be applied as follows:

• 10% on any outstanding amount of any instalment not paid by the due date
• 10% on amounts outstanding from earlier rating years, such penalty being applied on 1 October and 1 April - These are considered "arrears" 

The Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 has provisions for collection of unpaid rates. The rates department will work with any ratepayer who would like to arrange a payment plan. 

If rates become arrears, (10% on balance remaining at 30 June of previous rating year) our debt management agency (Debt Management Central- DMC) will contact the ratepayer and their first mortgagee notifying that rates are in default, and if required, demand for payment will be made from the first mortgagee.

Properties that do not have a mortgage will also be referred for collection.

The links show examples of the letters that customers receive: 

DMC Letter to properties with registered mortgage

DMC Letter to properties with no registered mortgage

The balance stated in the notification letter can be paid to DMC or CODC. Take into consideration that DMC letter only claims the balance until 30 June of the previous rating year; there could be an owing amount from the current rating year in their account.

Worst case scenarios include requesting judgement from High Court to declare land abandoned or to proceed to a rating sale. These processes are heavily prescribed with procedure and timeframes.