Sunshine Coast Council threatens sale of homes with unpaid rates

A Queensland council has revealed five properties could soon be forcibly sold due to a total of $190k in unpaid rates, as councillors urge those struggling with cost-of-living to reach out for assistance earlier.

The Sunshine Coast Council has voted to allow the sale of properties with years worth of overdue rates. Picture: Sam Turner

A Queensland council has revealed five properties could soon be forcibly sold due to unpaid rates, as councillors urge those struggling with cost-of-living to reach out for assistance earlier.

During the Sunshine Coast Council’s ordinary meeting on Wednesday, May 21, chief financial officer Michael Costello told councillors there were a handful of properties in the region that could soon be sold due to rates debt.

Mr Costello said there were currently five properties with rates and charges overdue by more than three years, which could soon be sold through public auction if the council approved of the action.

The outstanding rates totalled to $190,342, according to the report presented to the council.

The number had come down from an initial 62 properties reported in January 2025.

Mr Costello said there had only been one property on the Sunshine Coast forcibly sold in the past four years and it was unoccupied at the time.

Councillor Ted Hungerford said while he understood people in the community were struggling to make rate payments, the council had to be careful to not force other ratepayers to bear the cost.

“These people are struggling and we don’t like to be taking a property out from underneath them, but under the act it is the responsible thing we must pursue,” Mr Hungerford said.

Councillor Maria Suarez said there were “sensitive” ways the council’s team handled residents with unpaid rates and she was aware of the difficult housing situation in the region.

“These are people’s homes, this is where they live and over the last five years since I have been with council I have been impressed with the sensitivity and care that the team have put forward to help people address their financial situation,” Ms Suarez said.

Councillor Joe Natoli urged any landowners struggling to pay their rates to contact the council, stating they were “not the bad cops”.

Homeowners can prevent the sale of the property by paying all rates and charges due.

The council voted unanimously in support of the move to sell the properties identified.