You've probably heard of a LIM but have you heard of a PIM?

Often used by prospective purchasers of a property, a Land Information Memorandum (LIM) is a report that lists all the public information that a council has on a property, including information on the section and the buildings on it.

You're more likely to purchase a Project Information Memorandum (PIM) if you're planning any construction or major renovation work. A PIM is a heads-up about features of the property that might affect the project, allowing you to deal with any issues before the project gets underway.

PIMs provide a wide variety of information including hazards on the property; notification from a statutory organisation like the New Zealand Historic Places Trust or the Department of Conservation that the land or buildings are classified for a specific purpose; details of stormwater or wastewater systems on or near the building site; and details of any requirements that need to be met, such as getting a resource consent.

A PIM may also include confirmation that you can carry out the building work subject to the requirements of the building consent and any other authorisations, such as a resource consent. On the other hand, a PIM may provide notification that building work cannot be undertaken.

For example, you may find out that digging will interfere with drains, or your shed will overlap a designated boundary for potential road widening, or that your house is protected by a heritage order and no work can be undertaken on it without resource consent. It is better to have these issues identified early, as any changes to your plans are likely to get more expensive and complicated as planning progresses.

Early identification of potential issues and dealing with them during the planning and design phase will also increase the chance of the project gaining a building consent when you apply for one.

If you decide not to purchase a PIM early in your planning, the Building Act 2004 states that it must still be obtained before a building consent can be granted. You would then be supplied with the PIM at the same time as the building consent but by then it will be too late to use it to your advantage.

It has to be recognised that a PIM, while compulsory, may not deliver benefits for all jobs. Some jobs may not have any relevant information that affects them. As an example, the relocation of a wall or a new bathroom will gain little from the information on a PIM.

It's also important to understand what a PIM does not provide. A PIM doesn't give any form of approval under the District Plan, nor does it give authorisation to start work. A building consent is still needed. It is your responsibility to find out if your proposal complies with the District Plan by contacting your council or your planning adviser. If it does not, and a resource consent is required, you should get this before seeking a building consent to avoid potentially expensive changes to your proposal. 

* Bob De Leur is Principal Building Officer at the Auckland City Council