How it works
From address to answer in seconds.
HomeScope looks up a property in official council and government records the moment you ask, and turns what it finds into one clear report and a score out of 100.
- Type the addressAs you type, HomeScope suggests matches from Auckland Council's official address list, so you always pick a real, current address.
- We find the propertyThe address is matched to the council property record that covers it. That gives the boundary drawn on the map, the legal description, the record of title number, the land area (worked out from the boundary) and the Auckland Unitary Plan zone.
- Every check runs at onceThe whole property boundary, not just a single point, is checked against eleven Auckland Council hazard maps. At the same time HomeScope looks up earthquakes within 25 km since 1970, schools within 2 km, and the nearest bus stop, train station and ferry terminal.
- You get a score out of 100The findings are combined into the HomeScope score, with a breakdown showing exactly where points were gained or lost.
- Save or share itDownload the report as a dated PDF with its own report ID to keep, or to send to a buyer, client or lender.
What the report checks
Natural hazards
- Flood plain: land covered in a 1% annual chance (1-in-100-year) rainfall flood.
- Flood prone area: low points where water can pond.
- Flood sensitive area: land next to a flood plain.
- Overland flow path: the route stormwater takes when pipes are full.
- Coastal inundation: a 1% annual chance storm tide today, and the same storm with 1 m of sea-level rise.
- Liquefaction: Auckland Council's liquefaction vulnerability map.
- Landslides: shallow and large-scale landslide susceptibility.
- Tsunami: Civil Defence tsunami evacuation zones.
- Volcanic field: whether the address is in or near the Auckland Volcanic Field.
The neighbourhood
- Seismic history: every recorded earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more within 25 km since 1970.
- Schools: every open school within 2 km, with its type, roll size and whether it has an enrolment zone.
- Transport: bus stops within 800 m, and the nearest train station and ferry terminal. If the straight line to a station crosses the harbour, that station is skipped, so you see the nearest one reachable by land.
How the score works
The HomeScope score adds up four parts to make 100 points. Natural hazards carry the most weight, because they are the hardest and most expensive things to change after you buy.
| Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 85 – 100 | Excellent |
| 70 – 84 | Good |
| 55 – 69 | Fair |
| Below 55 | Needs a closer look |
Natural hazards: 50 points
The property starts with 50 points, and points are taken off for each hazard that affects it. The total can't go below zero.
| Hazard on the property | Points off |
|---|---|
| Flood plain | −12 |
| Coastal inundation in a 1% storm today | −10 |
| Flood prone area | −8 |
| Landslide susceptibility, very high (each type) | −8 |
| Liquefaction damage possible | −6 |
| Landslide susceptibility, high (each type) | −6 |
| Tsunami evacuation zone: red | −6 |
| Overland flow path crosses the property | −5 |
| Flood sensitive area (only if there is no flood plain) | −4 |
| Coastal inundation with 1 m sea-level rise (only if not flooded today) | −4 |
| Tsunami evacuation zone: orange | −4 |
| Landslide susceptibility, moderate (each type) | −3 |
| Tsunami evacuation zone: yellow | −2 |
Being in the Auckland Volcanic Field is shown in the report but doesn't lower the score, because almost all of urban Auckland sits within it.
Transport: 20 points
| What we measure | Points |
|---|---|
| Bus stops within 800 m: 1 point each | up to 8 |
| Nearest bus stop: within 200 m / 400 m / 800 m | 4 / 3 / 1 |
| Nearest train station reachable by land: within 1 km / 2 km / 4 km | 8 / 5 / 2 |
| Ferry terminal within 1.5 km | 4 |
Transport is capped at 20 points.
Schools: 20 points
| What we measure | Points |
|---|---|
| Schools within 2 km: 2 points each | up to 10 |
| Nearest school: within 500 m / 1 km / 2 km | 10 / 7 / 4 |
Seismic history: 10 points
| Largest earthquake within 25 km since 1970 | Points |
|---|---|
| Below magnitude 4 | 10 |
| Magnitude 4 to 4.9 | 8 |
| Magnitude 5 to 5.9 | 5 |
| Magnitude 6 or more | 2 |
If a data source can't be reached when you run a report, that part is left out and the score is worked out from the rest. The report says when this has happened.
What HomeScope is not
HomeScope is information drawn from public data. It is not a LIM, a building inspection, a valuation, a title search or professional advice. The score is indicative, and its weights are HomeScope's own judgement. Always get a LIM from Auckland Council, a report from a registered building inspector and advice from your lawyer before you buy.
Things to keep in mind
- Hazard maps are modelled and indicative. They don't cover every risk, and they change when the council updates its models.
- Distances are straight lines, not walking or driving routes.
- A school with an enrolment zone may not include this address. Check the school's zone map.
- Land area is calculated from the council boundary and is approximate. The record of title is the authoritative source.
- Coverage is the Auckland region only, for now.
How current is the data?
HomeScope doesn't keep its own copy. Every report queries the source systems live at the moment you run it, so you see the latest data each provider has published. The date and report ID on each report show when it was generated.