Some things to look for when buying a rental property

When a natural disaster occurs, properties will not necessarily be damaged in the same way or to the same extent.

If you’re thinking of buying a rental property you should consider what natural disasters might affect that property and the local area, and how key features such as foundations and chimneys will perform should a natural disaster occur.

One of the best things you can do before purchasing a property is seek advice from an appropriately qualified professional such as a building surveyor, licensed building practitioner or chartered professional engineer. They can tell you whether there are any issues with the property’s design and construction which may affect its performance in a natural disaster.

You can also contact us to see what information is available (for example, historical records, previous claims) on a property. Providing this information through the Official Information Act (OIA) can take up to 20 working days.

Our home buyers information has more detail.