Before you buy in Levin or anywhere in Horowhenua, two council checks are worth doing early: what the rates on the property will cost you each year, and what the council’s records say about it in a Land Information Memorandum (LIM). This guide explains both, with the current fees and figures.
Rates vary from property to property, so always check the rates for the address you are interested in. Horowhenua District Council confirmed an average rates increase of 5.8 per cent for 2026/27. Horizons Regional Council, which also rates Horowhenua properties, set an average increase of 4.76 per cent. Property owners pay rates to both councils, so include both when you budget.
Council shares out the rates it needs using each property’s rating value. Horowhenua’s latest revaluation, as at 1 August 2025, put the average home value at $568,000 and the average land value at $270,000, and these values have applied to rates since 1 July 2026. A rating value is not a market valuation, so do not treat it as a guide to price.
Ask the agent for the current annual rates, check the council’s rating information for the address, and ask your lawyer to confirm that rates are paid up to settlement. The LIM also includes a summary of the property’s rates account.
A LIM is a report from Horowhenua District Council that summarises what the council’s records hold about a property. It includes the rates account, District Plan zoning, special land features, natural or man-made hazards, building and other consents and notices, swimming pool compliance, stormwater and sewer drains, the status of the road and the type of water connection. It is based only on council records and does not involve anyone visiting the property.
From 1 July 2026, a LIM for an urban residential property costs $410, and for a rural, rural residential, commercial or industrial property $420. Council takes up to 10 working days to issue it, not counting the day you pay, and sends it electronically. You will need to supply a copy of the Certificate of Title and any registered consent notices, and council will not start until it has those documents and your payment. You can apply online or with a printed form.
No. A LIM tells you what council knows, not the condition of the house. Pair it with a building inspection, a title check by your lawyer and an insurance quote. If you are buying at auction, do these checks before auction day, because the sale is unconditional when the hammer falls.
Buying an older home? See what to check before you buy, and if you are new to the area, our guide to moving to Levin.
Read our buying guide, our guide for first-home buyers, or how buying at auction works. You can also talk to our team on 06 367 0661.