Puka tohutohu kaihoko whare Home buyers' guide

First-time home buyers 

Give yourself time to get the information you need, especially if you are buying through an auction.

What we can help with:

• Property valuation and rates information
• Visit Property reports for a Land Information Memorandum (LIM), property files and other property reports, the cost and how long they take to get.
• Planning zones. 
• Visit the Auckland Unitary Plan to learn about future plans for the area.

What you need to do yourself 

• Arrange finance and insurance.
• Get a property inspection.
• Buy a registered market valuation (needed for a mortgage).

Land Information Memorandum (LIM) 

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.

Property file 

A property file has documents not included in a LIM report:

• building, resource consents and licenses
• any correspondence with us about the property.

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.

Geotechnical reports 

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.

Other property information 

• Get a Contaminated land report if you are planning serious excavation or an underground car park.
• Get a custom resource consent report regarding information about resource consents in an area.

Zoning and rules 

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:

• find out what planning zones and rules apply to your property
• call us on 09 301 0101 and ask to speak to a planner about how zone rules affect your property.

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:

• future council plans
• parks, facilities and playgrounds
• where to walk your dog
• any publicly notified resource consents.

Deciding on how much to offer for a property can be difficult. This is not something we can help with but you can:

• ask your real estate agent for a list of properties that have sold in the area and compare similar properties to the one you want to buy
• ask your lawyer if they have any advice or concerns about your offer, the sale and purchase agreement, the LIM or property information
• factor in the cost of fixing any unconsented building work.

Further research options 

• Visit sorted.org.nz for advice on buying a home.
• Visit the Real Estate Agents Authority (REAA) for advice on making an offer on a property.
• Do you need more property information - like a contaminated land report?

Once you move into your new home, you will need to find out:

• when rubbish and recycling is collected in your area
• how to pay your property rates
• where the nearest waste transfer station is
• where our nearest library with council services is
• about your local board
• how to update your address if you have a dog.

Berm and grass verge mowing 

• Property owners are responsible for regularly mowing the berms outside their property. 
• Unmown berms can contribute to the spread of weeds, create a fire hazard, and conceal vermin and safety hazards.
• You should not add your own plants to berms. They can reduce sight lines, cause inconsistencies in berm appearance, and root systems can disrupt utility connections.

Learn more about caring for berms