A Wakerley property is among eight homes across Brisbane that authorities have moved to auction in February 2026 to recover a collective debt of nearly a quarter of a million dollars in unpaid rates.
Read: Housing Supply Stalls in Wakerley, Other Suburbs, as Empty Nesters Stay Put
The property, located on Cynthia Place in Wakerley, is among the properties flagged for forced auction by BCC, owing more than $28,000.
The other homes earmarked for sale are located in The Gap, Red Hill, Ashgrove, Kelvin Grove, Albion, Darra and Forest Lake, a mix of freestanding houses and apartments where owners have failed to settle their outstanding rates despite repeated contact from council officers and court based debt recovery efforts.
Cr Adrian Schrinner told the council chamber that officers had made multiple attempts to contact owners directly and had pursued debts through the court system before escalating to forced auction. He said roughly nine out of ten debts had been cleared in previous cases once owners realised the threat of sale was genuine. Cr Schrinner said it was simply not fair on ratepayers who consistently do the right thing.
Opposition leader Jared Cassidy backed the principle of recovering overdue rates but urged BCC staff to carefully check whether any debts had accumulated unintentionally, for instance where language barriers or other challenges may have played a role, before moving to sell.
Brisbane has pursued this course of action before. In 2018, BCC initiated forced sale proceedings against nine properties over unpaid rates then totalling around $130,000.
What happens when Brisbane rates go unpaid?
Missing a rates payment in Brisbane doesn’t immediately put a home at risk, but the consequences escalate quickly if debts are left unresolved. Interest begins accruing on late payments straight away, and BCC follows up with formal reminder notices allowing time to pay.
If the account remains in arrears, the council can take legal action and place a charge known as a lien over the property. When all other avenues have been exhausted, BCC can proceed to auction the property to recoup what is owed, as is now the case for the Cynthia Place home and seven others across Brisbane.
Residents can find more information about managing Brisbane rates at the BCC website.
What buyers should know
Those interested in purchasing at a rates recovery auction should keep a close watch on upcoming BCC auction listings. These properties are sold as is, and buyers need to be aware that they may be responsible for managing the eviction process, including any legal steps required to gain vacant possession of the property after settlement.
Read: Affordable Housing Fast-Tracked on Church Land in Wakerley
For Wakerley residents, the situation on Cynthia Place underscores how essential local services such as rubbish collection, park upkeep and road maintenance depend on everyone contributing their share. When rates go unpaid, the shortfall is one the broader community ends up carrying.
Published 24-February-2026
