Local Government (Rating) Act 2002

Rating information database and rates records - Notification of change in circumstances

31: Notification of change of ownership of rating unit

You could also call this:

"Tell the council when you buy or sell a property"

Illustration for Local Government (Rating) Act 2002

If you sell or transfer a rating unit, you must tell the local authority within one month. You need to tell them about the sale or transfer after it has taken effect. The local authority is the organisation that collects rates from you.

When you tell the local authority, you must include the full name and address of the person who bought the unit. If you sold the unit, you must also tell them the sale price. This information helps the local authority keep their records up to date.

If you become the owner of a rating unit because of a law, such as creating a joint family home, you must tell the local authority within one month. You must tell them that you are now the owner and give them your full name and address. A solicitor or agent can give the notice on your behalf if they acted for you in the sale or transfer.

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This page was last updated on 18 July 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM132269.

Topics:

Housing and property > Buying and selling homesGovernment and voting > Local councils

30: Interpretation, or

"What words in the law mean, like 'relevant local authority' and 'territorial authority'"

32: Notification of surrender or termination of lease or licence, or

"Telling the council when a lease or licence ends or changes"

Part 2Rating information database and rates records
Notification of change in circumstances

31Notification of change of ownership of rating unit

If an owner of a rating unit sells or otherwise transfers the unit, or any part of the unit, the owner must notify the relevant local authority of the sale or transfer within 1 month after the effective date of the sale or transfer.
Notice under subsection (1) must include—
the full name and address of the purchaser or transferee; and
in the case of a sale, the sale price.

If a person becomes the owner of a rating unit by the operation of law (including the creation of a joint family home), the person must, within 1 month after the registration of the instrument under which the person became the owner, or one of the owners of the unit, notify the relevant local authority of the following matters:
that he or she is the owner of the rating unit:
his or her full name and address.

If a solicitor or other authorised agent acted on behalf of the owner under subsection (1) or the person registering the instrument under subsection (3), the solicitor or agent must give the notice concerned.