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A Land Information Memorandum (LIM) is a Council document that provides information held by that Council in respect of a specific property.

It is recommended that the customer obtain a Land Information Memorandum (LIM) on a property before they complete their purchase, as it could disclose information that might influence their purchase decision.

What will a LIM tell me?

A LIM can only provide information that the council has on its records.

The council may not have all the information required to make a sound decision about purchasing the property, therefore the customer should inspect the site and also get expert opinion on the property.

A LIM will contain all or any of the following, as applicable:

• Official address, legal description, and unit/flat number as appropriate
• Special land features or characteristics including known hazards i.e. potential for erosion, slippage, subsidence or flooding.
• Private and public stormwater and sewerage (wastewater) drains as shown in the council records.
• Rates information i.e. annual rates payable and rates outstanding on the property.
• Water account information, including outstanding amounts.
• Planning information - any resource consents or requisitions affecting the land, and information on zonings and designations. Information relating to the use to which the land may be put and conditions attached to that use.
• Health information - any licences, registrations or requisitions e.g. for food premises, health facilities etc.
• Subdivision and developments - any known developments.
• Building - any building consents/permits, code compliance certificates, existence of a swimming pool.
• Kiwi distribution zones mapped by the Department of Conservation.
• Information given to the council about the land or buildings and/or site designations imposed by any statutory body i.e. Historic Places Trust.
• Any other information that the council considers (at its discretion) to be relevant.

A LIM will not provide full details of building restrictions applying to a site. If the customer is intending to buy a property for development, the proposal should be checked against the rules of the District Plan. Council officers are available if needed to discuss the proposal before committment to a purchase.

The Council cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information held on its files. Any queries or concerns should be discussed with a Council Building Officer or Resource Planner and appropriate independent professional advice sought.

 Do I need a LIM?

A LIM is optional. However, if the customer is considering purchasing a property, we strongly recommend that they obtain a LIM before finalising the purchase.

The customer may find a LIM useful, for example, in helping them to decide whether the property is free from any restrictions and whether the intended use of the land is feasible.

 Who can request a LIM?

Anyone can request a LIM.

How do I go about obtaining a LIM?

LIM applications are available at all council offices and service centres, on-line through the council web site or by request over the phone. A current Certificate of Title is required to accompany the application. Upon receipt of all relevant information the LIM report may take up to 10 working days to prepare.

• LIM Application Form

 Cost of a LIM

Fees and Charges

Research fee: Where extensive research is required, you can incur actual & reasonable costs.  (This charge is in addition to the prescribed LIM fee).

Please note: As work can only begin on collating a LIM once the fee is received, payment must be made with the LIM application.

 Processing time of a LIM

The statutory time frame for issuing a LIM is 10 working days.

Urgent LIM request

Council considers all LIM applications urgent . The statutory time frame for issuing a LIM is 10 working days.

Why is there no record of inspections?

Not all building records will have a record of inspections. Recent building covered by a Building Consent will have an inspection record but, prior to that, Building Permits were used and local authorities were not required to file records of progress inspections.

Because of this, there was no basis on which to assess or undertake a final inspection. For this reason, the Council does not do inspections on existing buildings.

If the customer wishes to have the building inspected for their own peace of mind, we suggest that they employ an independent building consultant to carry out an inspection; this would be at the customers own cost.

 Building work not finalised

Usually a Building Officer has either:

• attempted to make the final inspection, but there was no access to the building work. In this case another inspection can be booked.

• made the final inspection but there are matters outstanding. In this case the building work cannot be signed off.

Difference between a PIM and a LIM

A Land Information Memorandum (LIM) is an enquiry of council records relating to a particular property. The customer is not legally required to apply for a LIM. However, if they are considering purchasing a property, it is recommended that they obtain a LIM before finalising the purchase. The customer may find a LIM useful in assisting in deciding whether the land is worth purchasing, is free from any restrictions, and whether the intended use of the land is feasible.

A Project Information Memorandum (PIM) is a report prepared by the council to assist the customer in their application for a Building Consent. A PIM is a legal requirement for all building work. For larger projects - major alterations, or new commercial or industrial buildings - the customer will find a PIM very useful in establishing the feasibility and design of the project.