Three of the biggest southeast Queensland councils have to recover more than $32 million in unpaid rates and charges. The overdue rates have been outstanding for at least three years and are not the subject of court action.

About $14 million in overdue rates is owed to the Moreton Bay Regional Council, around $12.9 million to the Brisbane City Council, and close to $6.2 million to the Logan City Council. City councils of Logan and Redland city could sell up to 44 homes just to recover more than $350,000.

Likewise, the Redland City Council is considering the sale of 13 houses in order to recoup $66,837.84. Four of the properties are on Macleay Island while two are in Cleveland. Seven properties could be found on Russell Island.

The Brisbane City Council currently has 7552 outstanding rates bills for collection. The figure covers around 1.7 percent of the 446,916 accounts. Compared to 2009 data, 8498 property owners had outstanding bills amounting to $13.3 million.

No homes have been sold yet by the council in the past 12 months.

Redwood City Council acting chief executive Mike Hyde said, “Every effort to contact and reach agreement with landholders is made before regulated legal action is taken.”

He emphasized that the council will always stretch its debt levels. Affected ratepayers have until the auction to settle their debts and keep their homes.