IN LESS than a week, five Southern Downs properties will be sold at a public auction unless overdue rates are paid up in full.

Owners of five properties in Maryvale, Thane, Yangan and Hendon have been notified that the Southern Downs Regional Council will auction their land on May 10 if the rates remain unpaid.

Up to this point, all five property owners are yet to pay their rates.

"The property owners have until the morning of the auction to pay all outstanding rates and expenses of sale,” a SDRC spokeswoman said.

At least one of the properties owners is believed to owe the council three years worth of outstanding rates.

Under section 140(1) of the Local Government Regulation 2012, land may be sold if rates remain unpaid for a period of three years.

"Once a rate or charge becomes overdue council will issue two reminder notices,” the SDRC spokeswoman said.

Further steps are taken to retrieve the outstanding fees before legal advice is given.

"Once council resolves to sell land for overdue rates and charges, a council officer attempts to contact each land owner by phone to confirm receipt of a Notice of Intention to Sell.”

A public auction of the properties will be held on May 10 at 10am at the Council administration building, 64 Fitzroy St, Warwick.

The largest property that is scheduled for auction is 1.0115 hectares in area.

Southern Downs Regional Council was unable to disclose the total value of the outstanding rates due to privacy and legal reasons.