From mid-October 2025, significant changes to Land Information Memoranda (LIMs) will come into effect, reshaping how natural hazard information is disclosed to property buyers and owners. These changes follow amendments to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and the introduction of new regulations which require councils to include all known and potential natural hazards in every LIM issued. The LIM will also need to detail any climate change impacts that could intensify those hazards.
What counts as a natural hazard?
Natural hazards are broadly defined and include flooding, erosion, landslips, coastal inundation, earthquakes, liquefaction, volcanic activity, fire and drought.
New inclusions and disclosures
Councils must now disclose the hazard information they hold and landowners will have little ability to prevent this information from being included in LIM reports.
To ensure consistency across the country, the new regulations set out how hazard information must be presented. This includes plain-language summaries, clear subject headings, and hazard maps or links to online mapping portals.
Regional councils must also share their hazard data with territorial authorities. This means LIMs will provide a more complete picture of local risks.
At the same time, councils will be protected from civil or criminal liability if they act in good faith. This protection reduces the risk of litigation from property owners who may be unhappy about disclosures.
What this means for buyers and owners
A key impact of the new regime is that LIMs will now provide much more detail about hazards at the individual property level. This shift delivers greater transparency and ensures important information is not missed, but it also places more responsibility on property purchasers and homeowners.
Buyers, sellers, and homeowners will be expected to understand and respond to the information provided. There will be little excuse for failing to disclose risks if questioned later by lenders or insurers.
Why this matters
The increased disclosure requirements could increase risk exposure for homeowners as insurers and banks are likely to scrutinise hazard information more closely. There is already evidence of claims or cover being declined where concerns over ground movement or sinking land have been identified.
LIMs are already a key part of checking a property before purchase, but these changes will make them even more important. However, purchasers must still carry out their own risk assessments, as councils are not required to provide site-specific analysis.
These reforms bring both advantages and risks for everyone involved in buying and selling property. LIMs will be clearer and more consistent across the country, giving buyers more confidence that important hazard information is disclosed. At the same time, the increased focus on natural hazards means that risks are less likely to be overlooked, which could affect property values, insurance, or lending decisions.
The new system is designed to remove gaps in disclosure, so hazard information is likely to play a bigger role in every property transaction.
How we can help
If you are buying or selling property, or have questions about how the upcoming LIM changes may affect you, our property team are available to assist you. Get in touch with us at [email protected] or +64 3 441 2743.
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