Nașinu City Hall presented its annual report to the Permanent Commission for Social Affairs, drawing attention to several significant challenges that prevent the effective recovery of the rate.

Nasinu City Council Director of Corporate Services, Imran Khan highlights a major problem affecting the municipality, which is that a substantial number of properties in Nasinu areas remain legally unresolved, with approximately 845 properties lacking ownership documentation appropriate.

Khan explains that many of these properties have remained in limbo as ownership has passed informally from deceased owners to heirs, often over several generations.

He notes that due to the lack of official transfer documentation or wills, ownership of these properties remains undefined, complicating efforts to ensure compliance with installment payments.

“So it is very difficult for the council to take any legal action on this. The only option it gives the council in this regard is to offer a higher payment for these properties and this will only have a direct effect if there is a change of ownership. So those are some of the challenges we face in terms of rate recovery.”

Khan says that without clear ownership records, the Council faces legal limitations in enforcing installment payments from these properties.

He points out that the cumulative unpaid rates from these outstanding properties have reached about $5.8 million, adding financial pressure to the municipality and affecting services that depend on rate recovery.

The council calls for greater awareness and action among property owners to formalize property transfers, particularly in cases of inheritance.