New fee for property file requests introduced

Invercargill City Council is streamlining access to property files and LIMs with an online system and introducing a fee to reflect the cost of delivering the service.

From Monday 11 May, a new flat fee of $20 will apply per property file request.

Invercargill City Council Manager Consenting and Applications Gillian Cavanagh said the Council receives a large volume of property file and LIM requests every month, which take significant resources to process and supply.

“Last year, Council received 6000 property files requests and 2026 is continuing strong, with current requests trending towards more than 500 requests per month. The new online system with user-pays will simplify the process, and ensure the service remains sustainable as demand continues to grow,” she said.

From 1 July 2026, a split fee structure will be introduced with two separate property file charges, depending on the complexity of the property file requested.

Currently, the proposed fees are: $25 for properties with a single residential dwelling, and $45 for other/complex requests. These fees are set to be confirmed by Council in June.

“Most property file requests are completed within one to three working days, but larger or more complex files can take longer, particularly when paper records need to be recalled and prepared for viewing. This change is about fairness, and the split fee structure reflects this,” Cavanagh said.

The new system will make it easier for customers with LIM and property file requests all in the same online portal. Property files requests will go directly into the system for processing, and an automatic confirmation email sent to the customer.

While many records will be accessible online, some property files are not yet digitised and may still require in person viewing. If a customer is outside the Southland region and cannot view a file in person, they could ask a local contact to view the records on their behalf, or they may choose to engage a service provider. Customers based outside the region may wish to check the status of their file records with the team, prior to lodging their request.

With the system moving online the Property Records team will continue to be available to help with queries about requests.

“We recognise that not everyone can lodge or pay online, and our team will continue to assist customers who need support.” Cavanagh said.

Further information about property files, LIMs and how to apply is available on the Invercargill City Council website.