A Land Information Memorandum, or LIM, is a report from the council about a specific property. It brings together what the council holds on the land, such as consents, permits and notices, and is one of the most useful documents you can read before committing to a purchase. In Levin you request it from Horowhenua District Council.
Under a July 2025 amendment to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, and new regulations that took effect in October 2025, councils must include all natural hazard information known to them. That includes information held by other agencies, such as regional councils and central government. The regulations also set standards for how hazard information is summarised, so reports are more consistent from council to council.
The hazards the council has named are flooding, erosion, landslides, coastal inundation and sea level rise, and earthquake and liquefaction risk. Read the council’s notice, Changes to natural hazard reporting in LIMs, for the detail.
Look for what is recorded against the specific property, not only the general area. Note which hazards are mentioned, where the information came from and whether it affects what you can build or change. If anything is unclear, ask the council, and consider asking your lawyer or a building professional to explain what it means for the property and for insurance.
We are not engineers or planners, and we will not pretend to interpret hazard maps for you. What we can do is make sure you have the LIM early, so that questions are asked before you are committed.
Buyers will read the LIM closely, so it helps to know what is in yours. If you would like to talk it through before your home goes to market, you can book a free appraisal. Our buying guide covers the other checks buyers should make.