A MOLE Creek home has been sold to recover rates not paid by the owners, who said they were exempt because the land belonged to God.

The rural property in the state’s north was part of a dispute between Meander Valley Council and owners Rembertus and Fanny Beerepoot.

The pair stopped paying rates in 2010 and owed about $3500.

Earlier this year, the Beerepoots wrote to the council advising it to take the matter up with God.

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After correspondence hit a stalemate, the council put the house under the hammer this morning at Westbury Town Hall, where it sold to a mystery bidder for $120,000.

Meander Valley mayor Craig Perkins said proceeds would be used to pay off what the Beerepoots owed the council plus costs, with the remainder going to the family.

“It’s disappointing that it has come to this,” Mr Perkins said.

“Council has had to spend a lot of time and resources to pursue this based on someone who’s not prepared to understand and appreciate the law of the land.”

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MORE: BEEREPOOT FAMILY REFUSE TO PAY RATES

The Beerepoots also refused to pay rates at their Melita Honey Farm cafe and shop in nearby Chudleigh but were bailed out by an anonymous donor in June.

In their letter to the council, they said they were unable to bow down to a false god.

“We believe that our heavenly father is sovereign and that he reigns today, thus we worship him and him alone so that his will is established on the Earth,” they wrote.

“You are asking us to bow down to a false god which is something we cannot do.”

The Mole Creek home now enters a 45-day settlement process.

“I hope they co-operate with that sale process now,” Mr Perkins said, adding the house was sold for well under market value of about $300,000.

“From what I can understand they are nice people.

“I think they’ve just come to the fundamental view that they don’t have to pay their rates.”

media_camera Fanny Beerepoot with samples of honey at the family business, the Melita Honey Farm.

Mr Perkins said the Beerepoots needed to understand the consequences of their actions.

“All of us contribute to the services and infrastructure that as a community we use and benefit from,” he said.

Local Government Association of Tasmania chief executive Katrena Stephenson recently said it was not uncommon for properties to be sold off to recoup unpaid rates in Tasmania but the reason given for this particular exemption was unusual.

“The claim that the land which their properties stand is God’s land is a first for Tasmania, I understand,” Dr Stephenson said.