Hefty price tag to view property files

File Photo / Supplied

Viewing property files at Waikato District Council just got expensive $68 per half hour and don't bother turning up unannounced because viewing is by appointment only.

The council has cut free access to the public information at its Huntly, Raglan and Ngaruawahia offices, where a property officer will shadow viewers as they sort through files.

It aims to book appointments for would-be home buyers and interested parties within 24 hours.

The half-hour fee is made up of a $34 fee to see the records and another $34 for the appointment with the property officer. The fees cover the time required to check and audit files for public viewing.

The council said it would also promote LIM reports for properties, which are more detailed, but cost up to $265.

Regulatory general manager Nath Pritchard said there had been issues with the free service because anyone visiting council offices could access the information unchecked.

"Historically the files have been viewed by people with genuine reason and occasionally those with unreasonable intent," he said.

"We have had situations where property information has been removed or copied from files. Now all files are being audited and an appointment time means the property information officer can go through the file and check it before and after it is viewed."

Mr Pritchard said the new system would provide clearer, more accurate information to customers, and reduce liability for errors, loss of or damage to file information, and release of confidential information.

Property files from the former Franklin district were scanned and audited as a result of the transition to the Waikato district in November 2010.

This means those files can be viewed on-screen at the front counter of the council's Tuakau office on request.

Hamilton City Council said it cost $11 to view a property file and $4.10 for each A4 print-out. No appointment is necessary.

Thames-Coromandel District Council's property information is available online for free and the council has almost completed back-scanning thousands of files to make all its property files available on the internet.

At Waipa District Council, property files are being digitised, so it could take three days for an appointment with a property officer, but the appointment and viewing are free.

The only charge is for photocopying.

If a file has already been scanned, it can be viewed online or emailed.