John Mark Fitzpatrick has been told to pay $20,000 in rates by the Walkerville Council or lose his two homes

A lawyer has been threatened by an inner suburbs council to pay his rates or face losing his houses at a public auction.

Mr Fitzpatrick has been given one month to pay the Walkerville Council. Picture: Keryn Stevens

A lawyer has been threatened by the Town of Walkerville Council after allegedly failing to pay his council rates on time for two Walkerville Tce properties.

The Walkerville Council issued a notice to John Mark Fitzpatrick on Saturday, claiming he owed $20,072.45 “payable to the council for rates, including fines and interest” on his two properties – his rates have been outstanding since December 23, 2020.

The council has threatened to sell the properties, via public auction, to recoup the rates it claims it is owed along with legal costs and expenses incurred in selling the property.

The Walkerville Council issued a notice to John Mark Fitzpatrick on Saturday November 23, claiming he owed $20,072.45 in unpaid rates. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Mr Fitzpatrick has been given one month to pay the moneys owed.

A spokesperson for the Town of Walkerville said council would only sell a property at public auction as “a last resort”.

Under section 184 of the Local Government Act 1999, council can take steps to sell a property with unpaid rates of three years or more, receiving only a portion of the sale to cover the rates in arrears.

“Town of Walkerville does all it can to work with ratepayers to ensure that Council doesn’t have to investigate section 184 options,” the spokesperson said.

“We actively engage with ratepayers who have difficulty paying rates to ensure all avenues of assistance can be provided – this includes payment plans, financial hardship assistance and temporary postponement of rates.

“Town of Walkerville will take all the steps necessary to inform a ratepayer of unpaid rates and support them where possible.

A neighbour – who did not wish to be identified – said they had “almost no contact with” Mr Fitzpatrick but were frustrated with the state of his property.

“Furniture, rubbish, there’s shopping carts full of stuff in [the courtyard] as well,” they said.

“We hear him coming at all hours but we hardly see him, we have very little interaction with him.”

The Town of Walkerville Council has never sold a property under section 184 to recoup unpaid rates.

Mr Fitzpatrick was contacted for comment.