Based on the number of Land Information Memoranda requests in February the demand for housing is up in the Coromandel.

LIM's are requested by people interested in buying properties and the Thames-Coromandel District Council says it received a record 164 requests for the month of February.

Housing demand is up on the Coromandel says the Thames-Coromandel District Council, based on a record number of Land Information Memoranda requests during February. Photo: File

Land Information officer Christine Harrison says the trend that council is seeing is that housing demand is exceeding supply, particularly in Thames.

'We're getting multiple requests for the same property,” says Christine, 'Which indicates that there is high demand, and there's a back-up in buyer demand.”

Christine adds: 'Builders and building supply shops can expect to be kept busy over the winter months.”

'We also see a spike generally six months after this data in building and resource consent applications.

'Those who buy a home are often prepared to spend additional money on renovations or do-up plans.”

LIM's on properties contain information about things such as potential erosion, contamination, flooding, structural requirements, where street water pipes and waste water pipes run, rates details, consents, zoning and more.

Land Information Memoranda Requests received by the Thames-Coromandel District Council from 2010/2011 to 2014/2015. Image: TCDC

February's 164 LIM requests were well above February of last year where there were 108 requests, and the 125 made for the same month in 2013.

January is normally the council's busiest month for LIM requests but this February has been the highest number its received in any month since February 2006 – before the Global Financial Crisis and the recession in New Zealand, when there were 165 request.

Christine says March looks to be tracking the same.

'While we've been super busy with requests our team is still getting an urgent LIM request out in two days and within 10 days for a standard LIM request.”

She adds: 'There was a dip in LIM requests in August and September last year, before the General Election. We think people were sitting tight until after the election.”

To learn more about obtaining a LIM from the Thames-Coromandel District Council click here.