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    WE ARE GETTING READY TO MAKE A BIG SPLASH

    Tax Sale Information

    The next Tax Sale will be held on the last Monday in September at 10:00 am in Council Chambers at 7360 Columbia St., Port Hardy BC.

    Tax Sale Information

    The following notes are intended to provide a general outline of the tax sale process. For complete information, prospective purchasers should consult the Local Government Act, in particular (but not limited to) Sections 645-672.

    • The District of Port Hardy is required by the Local Government Act to sell at Tax Sale all properties whose taxes have not been paid for three (3) years.
    • The Local Government Act gives the Collector authority to sell a property for the Upset Price which equals all outstanding taxes + penalties + interest + tax sale costs + Land Title Office fees.
    • All property sales are “as is” without warranty or guarantee by the District of Port Hardy.

    Advertising

    • The Local Government Act requires municipalities to advertise in a local paper not less than three (3), or more than ten (10) days prior to the Tax Sale.
    • The property legal description and street address must be published.

    Tax Sale

    • A public auction will be held at 10:00 am, on the last Monday in September each year in Council Chambers, District Office located at 7360 Columbia St. Port Hardy.
    • Bidding is accepted on all properties.
    • Prospective bidders are advised that it is their responsibility to search the title of the property in advance to determine if there are any charges registered against the property.
    • The minimum bid is the amount of the Upset Price.
    • If no bidding takes place within three (3) calls by the Collector (auctioneer), the District of Port Hardy is declared the purchaser at the Upset Price.
    • Purchasing Property

    • The purchaser will be required to pay the bid price to the District of Port Hardy by way of cash, money order, or certified cheque.
    • Payment of the upset price is required immediately, final payment for the bid over the upset price will be required by 3:00 pm the same day otherwise the property will be offered for sale again at 10:00 am September 27, 2022.

     

     Notifying Charge Holders

    • The Collector is required by law to search all property titles and within 90 days after Tax Sale notify all registered charge holders shown on each property.

    Redemption

    • The original owner has one (1) year after the property is sold at Tax Sale to pay the taxes and buy back their property. This is called redemption.
    • All registered charge holders have the full right to redeem the property.
    • To redeem the property, the owner or charge holder must remit the full upset price, plus interest on the purchase price at a rate set by the Province, within one (1) year of the Tax Sale.
    • As soon as the property is redeemed, the Collector will refund to the Tax Sale purchaser the purchase price, plus interest to the date of redemption.

    Rights During Redemption Period

    • Section 665 of the Local Government Act provides that when real property is sold at Tax Sale, all rights held by the person who at the time of the sale was the owner, immediately cease to exist, except for the right of redemption, the right to bring an action to set aside the Tax Sale, and the right to possession.
    • The registered owner’s right of possession is subject to the purchaser’s right to bring action against the original property owner for waste (i.e. damage or destruction to the premises) and the right of the purchaser to enter onto the property to maintain it and to prevent waste.
    • Damage, destruction or loss of property during the redemption period are at the risk of the purchaser. The purchaser is advised to insure their interest in the property.

    Property Not Redeemed

    • If the property is not redeemed during the one (1) year period, the Collector applies for registration of the new owner at the Land Titles Office, thus cancelling all previous registered charges, except for those matters set out in Section 276(1) (c) to (g) of the Land Title Act and any lien of the Crown, an improvement district or a local district.
    • The purchase of a tax sale property is subject to tax under the Property Transfer Act on the fair market value of the property.