Activist Penny Bright resolves outstanding rates bill, stopping forced sale of home

Thursday, 17 May 2018

Penny Bright has resolved her outstanding rates bill and stopped the forced sale of her home.

Auckland activist Penny Bright's 'one-woman rates revolt' is over.

Bright has been locked in a years-long battle with Auckland Council over her refusal to pay the rates on her Kingsland home.

The council recently moved to force the sale of the house to recoup the $34,000 it says she owes.

Bright said on Thursday she had filled out an Auckland Council rates postponement application at 3pm, which resolves the debt and stops the forced sale.

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'Under duress and in order to stop the forced sale of my home, I filled out the form,' Bright said.

Bright, who announced last week she had stage three ovarian cancer, said the move would take a while to sink in.

'Then I can continue full steam ahead to get rid of this inoperable cancer.'

Bright has refused to pay the rates over what she says is a lack of transparency from the council regarding its contracts.

Rates postponement means the debt is secured against Bright's home, which has a capital value of $1.04 million, rather than her paying the amount straight away.

This means the council will reclaim the debt in the event of death or sale of the house.

The total amount of $69,000 is made up of both unpaid rates and legal fees.

Auckland Council group chief financial officer Matthew Walker said the council's preference was to come to an agreement that allowed Bright to stay in her home.

'We can now all move on and allow Ms Bright to focus on more important matters,' Walker said.

'We have advised the High Court Registrar of this outcome and he will now be withdrawing the rating sale of her Kingsland property.

'I want to reiterate that options are available to those whose personal circumstances result in them struggling to pay their rates.

'We encourage anyone in such a position to contact us to discuss their options.'