Property File Products and Land Information Memorandums are experiencing delays due to a technical issue. We are working through the backlog to deliver customer orders as soon as possible.
Some council services will be unavailable over the Christmas and New Year break.
Check if you need to apply or order before Friday 19 December 2025.
Thinking about buying a home?
Before you make an offer, it’s important to understand the property, the area, and what your responsibilities will be. We can help you get the right information.
Give yourself time to get the information you need, especially if you are buying through an auction.
What we can help with:
Most people buy a Land Information Memorandum (LIM) report and a property file from us before they buy property.
Your lawyer will check the LIM to see if all of the buildings are council-approved and legal. The LIM lists development restrictions and any hazards, like flooding.
The LIM report provides a summary of the information the council holds about a property. This is required under Section 44A of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA). It only includes information the council is aware of. If you need more detail or copies of documents mentioned in the LIM, you’ll need to buy a property file.
LIMs are only valid from the date they were issued on.
You need to pay when you apply for the LIM.
| Lim service | Fee | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $375 | $187.50 |
| Urgent | $506 | No refund or cancellation more than 24 hours after ordering. |
Check the date on any real estate agent's LIM report.
Your lawyer will need a current LIM. A LIM older than three months could be missing some information.
A property file has documents not included in a LIM report:
A property file does not replace a LIM report.
The contents of the property file only includes work that has been done on the property that we have approved and consented.
If building work does not have a consent, it will not be in the file. Our contact details are included in the property file in case you have any questions.
We hold some historic building information, but full records were not required before July 1992. The Building Act 1991 came into effect in July 1992. If your property was built before then, we may not have any records for it.
You need to pay when you order the property file.
| Property file service | Fee | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | $149 | $74.50 |
| Standard | $77 | $38.50 |
| Urgent | $117 | No refund or cancellation more than 24 hours after ordering. |
Compare the latest floor plan in the property file to make sure all the building work is legal (has a Code of Compliance). Properties built before 1992 did not need a Code of Compliance.
Get a private pre-purchase building inspection if you are concerned about the condition of a house you want to buy.
If you are building on bare land, you may need a geotechnical report. This report lists site conditions, design and construction recommendations.
There may already be a geotechnical report on the property file. If you are buying a property file to see a geotechnical report, note this on the request form.
If there is no geotechnical report on the file, you can arrange one through a geotechnical engineer.
To arrange a geotech report, search for a geotechnical engineer in the yellow pages.
The current zones and rules for properties are set out in district plans. The Auckland Unitary Plan sets out the plans for future zones.
You can:
Our planners can help you understand what you can or cannot do on your property, and what you may need a consent for.
If the LIM, property files and other research is looking good, it is time to check out What's in your neighbourhood.
Our information will help guide you on:
Deciding on how much to offer for a property can be difficult. This is not something we can help with but you can:
Once you move into your new home, you will need to find out:
