Activist Penny Bright's house could be sold to recover unpaid rates and penalties on the house.

Auckland Council has asked the High Court to proceed with the sale of her Kingsland house.

The sale would seek to recover unpaid rates and penalties dating back to 2007.

This followed an unsuccessful appeal by Bright and a statutory six-month stand down period for the council.

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Auckland Council acting group chief financial officer Matthew Walker said taking enforcement action to recover unpaid rates was "the last resort and happens very rarely".

"The council has written to Ms Bright regularly over the last six months offering to resolve this matter.

"We have also offered to meet with her to discuss rates postponement, which she has declined," he said.

In January 2016, the District Court entered judgment for Auckland Council against Bright for $34,182.56 for outstanding rates and penalties.

Costs were awarded in the council's favour for $13,249.20

In July 2016 Chief High Court judge Justice Geoffrey Venning dismissed an appeal by Bright in the High Court at Auckland and awarded costs in favour of the council for $7080.

The summary judgment obtained was for outstanding rates and penalties of $34,182.56, as at 30 June 2015.

The council has been awarded total costs in the District and High Courts of $20,329.20.

In May 2017 the High Court issued a notice pursuant to the Local Government Rating Act of 2002 requiring Bright to pay the judgment sum, costs and all remaining rates due on the property.

If an arrangement could not be reached with Bright and the sale of the property went ahead, it would be used to recover the full amount of outstanding rates and penalties and any further costs, including real estate agency and legal fees.

The remainder of the proceeds from the sale would be released to Bright through the Public Trust.