How do I find out who built my house in NZ?
Short answer
Try the council's property file first — most councils retain the original building consent paperwork showing the consent holder (usually the builder or developer). Cost $50-150 to retrieve, typically online. The LIM also shows consent history but with less detail. If the build is pre-1991, paper records may be partial or missing. Real-estate listings from the original sale (if you can find them in NZHerald property archives) sometimes name the builder.
Source: Each council's property file portal. Updated May 2026.
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Check a builderKey facts
- Council property file is the best primary source
- LIM shows consent history but less builder detail
- Pre-1991 records may be sparse
- Subsequent renovation consents help identify subsequent builders
- Master Build or Halo certificate also names the builder
Step 1 — Council property file
Apply through the council where the property sits. Most have an online portal. You'll get the building consent application, the consented plans, inspection records, and CCC.
The consent application names the 'applicant' — usually the homeowner at the time. The plans often have the designer's stamp. Inspection records sometimes name individual tradies.
Step 2 — Cross-reference
The applicant may have been the homeowner who hired a builder. The 'builder' field on the consent application sometimes names the company; sometimes it's blank. If named, look the company up on Companies Office to see if it still exists.
If the consent included an LBP signoff (post-2012), the LBP carpentry person's name will be there. That's a living link — even if their company is gone, you can probably find them on the LBP register.
Step 3 — Master Build / Halo records
If your house came with a 10-year guarantee, the certificate names the builder. Even an expired certificate is a useful evidence trail.
Master Builders and NZCB can sometimes confirm whether a property had a guarantee historically — but they're cagey about giving information unless you're the registered guarantee holder.
Knowing the rules is half the job. The other half is knowing who you're hiring. Check any NZ builder against the public record: company status, licensing and insolvency notices, from the official NZ sources.
Related questions
Sources: Each council's property file portal; LINZ records; Registered Master Builders / NZCB. General information for NZ homeowners, not legal advice. Building rules change and vary by council, so confirm critical details on the official source before acting. Last updated 2026-05.