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South Australia · Council Rate Sales
Official rate-sale notices in Sa Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Data gathered daily from official sources.
Updated daily from official sources · 2026
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Rate sales in Sa Kangaroo Islandappear here as they're published. Turn on a free alert to be the first to know.
After rates stay in arrears beyond the statutory period, the council issues formal notices to the owner and any mortgagee. If the debt is still not paid, the council sets a reserve price to cover the overdue rates and charges plus the costs of sale and advertises a public auction. On the day, bidders usually pay a 10% deposit, with settlement around 30 days later through the Land Titles Office. The owner keeps the right to pay the arrears in full at any time before the fall of the hammer to stop the sale.
The owner stops paying council rates and charges. Interest and recovery costs accrue while the debt sits unpaid for the statutory period — about three years in most states, and five or more in New South Wales.
The council pursues the debt and, once it is entitled to sell, issues formal notices to the owner and any registered mortgagee warning that the land may be sold to recover the overdue rates.
The council sets a reserve price to cover the overdue rates and charges plus the costs of sale. This is not market value, so the reserve can sit well below what the land is actually worth. The Valuer-General's land value is a useful reference point.
The council advertises the auction publicly — in the government gazette, local newspapers, and online — stating the date, the land, and the terms of sale, as required by its state or territory Local Government Act.
Order a title search and check the plan, zoning, easements, caveats, and any prior-ranking mortgages or statutory charges. Confirm what the sale will and will not clear before you bid.
The land is offered at public auction by the council or its appointed auctioneer and sells to the highest bidder at or above the reserve. The owner can still pay the arrears in full right up to the fall of the hammer to stop the sale.
The successful bidder usually pays a 10% deposit on the day and signs the contract, with the balance due at settlement around 30 days later.
On settlement, a Torrens transfer is registered at the Land Titles Office and title passes to the buyer. Any surplus after the rates, costs, and prior charges goes to the former owner. If the land is occupied, the buyer arranges possession.
Investor tip
Order a title search before you bid and check for easements, caveats, prior-ranking mortgages, and statutory charges — a rate sale clears most prior interests, but not all of them. Compare the reserve with the Valuer-General's land value and recent local sales, and remember the property almost always sells as is, often with no interior inspection, so budget for condition and possession risk.
Move from this council to the statewide strategy, the map, and filters by closing date.
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In most cases a completed rate sale clears prior mortgages and most other interests, but some can survive — for example prior-ranking mortgages, certain easements, and statutory charges. Always order a title search and get legal advice before you bid.