What a property risk assessment is
On 1 May 2023, the New Zealand Government released an
Update on assessment of affected properties post cyclone and flooding outlining the three property risk categories.
A risk assessment helps us determine:
- how likely it is that future severe weather events would pose a risk to life
- whether there is a way this risk could be managed so it is safe for people to live there.
It gives us the information needed to apply a
risk category to your property.
Assessment of individual properties
The order in which we assess individual properties depends on:
- whether the property was affected by flood, landslide or both
- extent of storm damage
- the location of the property and the possible interventions and improvements that can be made in the general area
- whether the occupants have been displaced from their home
- the complexity of the engineering assessment
- when the homeowner submitted their assessment request form.
For more information, see
Step-by-step guide to a flood risk assessment to learn the steps in a flood risk assessment process explained in a series of short videos.
Site visits from council engineers
When our engineers meet with property owners on a site visit, they will:
- discuss the information they provided in their Flooding and landslide registration form
- fill any gaps in their knowledge about how the property flooded
- walk around with the owners to see where the damage occurred to help them identify the right solution for each property.
For more on this process, see our video,
A brief guide to site assessments for flood affected properties.
Why flood risk assessments take time
There are a number of factors involved in assigning a property categorisation following a site visit. These are explained in a helpful video.
Read the
full transcript of this video.
Register your property details online
If you believe your property has a high risk for flooding or storm damage, you can register your property details online, even if you have not received a property categorisation.
This includes homes that were damaged in the recent storms but did not receive a placard following a council rapid building assessment.
To find out how we use the information you provide on the form, see How we use your flooding and landslide information.
How to register your property
Complete the form to register your property details with Auckland Council.
Flooding and landslide registration form
Email
propertycategory@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz if you need to add or change any details once you have submitted the form.
Important risk assessment considerations
The risk assessment gives us the information we need to apply a risk category to your property.
A risk assessment has two parts:
- An initial desk assessment based on existing information and any information you provide. The desktop assessments involve information collected from property files, photographs, published geological information and
LiDAR data to calculate slope angles. This gives an indication of whether your property is likely to be low or high risk. It also tells us if a site assessment is needed.
- An on-site assessment to look at your physical property. This will be required if we think your home could be high risk.
The site assessments will look at whether there are changes that can be made at your property or in the surrounding area to reduce the future risk to the home of serious flooding or landslides.
If you are waiting for a risk category
We are working through a large number of assessments and will get to your property as soon as we can.
You can continue repair work on your property while waiting for a category. See our guide 'Progressing work while waiting for a category' in
Storm recovery documents to find out more.
Email
propertycategory@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz if you decide to sell your home while waiting for a risk category.
Read our summary on the assessment process to learn more, or you can
Get your own geotechnical report at your own cost.
Assessment process summary
Read our summary for the geotechnical and flood risk assessment process.
