Abandoned houses and sections on the market

Fifteen abandoned Murupara houses, sections and commercial properties have been put up for sale by the Whakatane District Council.

Legally, a property may be declared "abandoned land" if rates have not been paid for more than three years and the ratepayer is either unknown, cannot be found, is dead and has no personal representative; or if they have given notice that they intend to abandon or have already abandoned the land.

The Murupara properties have been declared abandoned and the Whakatane District Council has been given authority by the Rotorua District Court to sell the properties.

All overdue rates and fines on the properties have been wiped.

Nine residential sections in Kowhai Ave, Tawa St, two in Rimu Rd, Pohutukawa Dr, Karamea St, Hinau Pl and two in Kahikatea St will be available to buyers.

There are also two lifestyle blocks with land areas of slightly more than 1ha, a small block of vacant commercial land in central Murupara, which is held in two titles next to the Four Square superette; a commercial site of 397sq m in Koromiko St, two attractive lifestyle blocks on the outskirts of Murupara, each having an area of slightly more than 1ha.

Whakatane District Council finance manager Helen Barnes said properties were being offered on the open market for sale by tender.

She said prospective buyers could tender for any one or more of the properties.

"All properties are offered for tender with realistic reserve prices and are cleared of all rate arrears," Ms Barnes said.

"With current rating valuations for individual residential sections in the vicinity of $6000 the properties are likely to sell at very affordable prices."

Ms Barnes said the council thought the properties would appeal to buyers seeking a building site, neighbours who want to increase the size of their existing property, people who were seeking a lifestyle opportunity and investors or developers landbanking for future opportunities.

She said anyone interested in tendering for the Murupara properties could visit www.whakatane.govt.nz/murupara for the information memorandum and terms and conditions of tender documents.

"The properties will also be listed on www.Trade Me.co.nz, reference number 471346940, and advertised in local papers across the Bay of Plenty," Ms Barnes said.

Tenders will close at 4.30pm on Thursday, June 7.

Information packs are also available from the Whakatane District Council office on Commerce Street in Whakatane and the Murupara Service Centre on Pine St.