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A retiree about to lose his home to unpaid fees is resting easy after his son made an arrangement with the city council that he wanted him out.
Stuff reported Thursday on the 75-year-old retired engineer.
His home was one of two listed for sale after Napier City Council obtained Superior Court orders under the Local Government (Qualification) Act of 2002.
The orders were obtained in August of last year. Tenders for the properties close on October 13.
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Gregory said he had no idea that his fees weren’t being paid.
“I got a letter earlier this year telling me to set up a direct debit to pay my fees, so I went to the bank and did it. I thought I would go out of my pension automatically, like my energy and my insurance, ”he said Wednesday.
MARTY SHARPE / Things
Justin Gregory says he’s much happier after his son paid off a rate debt, stopping the council’s plans to sell his home.
The 440-square-meter rear property and three-bedroom home was recently valued at $ 385,000. The annual fee bill was $ 2,285.
“It is the only home I have. I don’t know what I would do, where I would go if I wasn’t here. I am not selling my house, ”he said.
After reading about the situation Thursday morning, his son, who had no idea about the situation, contacted Gregory and has made arrangements to pay off the debt.
It is not yet clear exactly how much he owed.
MARTY SHARPE / Things
The Sharon McCleary family, who own this property at 4 Winifred St., Napier, have made arrangements with the Napier City Council. The council is hoping for a “good result for all”.
“I am so happy that I will not have to leave my house. I could barely sleep an eye last night, ”Gregory said.
“My son will fix everything and I will solve it with him,” he said.
A family member of Sharon McCleary, who owns the other property listed for sale, has also contacted the council and a similar result was reached.
A spokeswoman for the council said that “we are pleased that the family members of Mr. Gregory and Ms. McCleary have contacted the Council, and we are hopeful that a good outcome can be achieved for all involved.”
Although the names and addresses of both owners were published in a newspaper on Wednesday, the spokeswoman said it was “a private matter, and no further comment will be provided at this stage.”
