What you need to know
A cross lease to freehold conversion is a process where a property with shared ownership under a lease agreement is transformed into individual freehold titles. This requires consent from Council, and agreement from your cross lease neighbours. During this process, all cross leased titles at the property will be converted to freehold, and new boundaries will be created to divide the land into separate parcels.
Why convert?
With freehold ownership, you have the highest level of ownership rights over the land and any buildings on the property. You are not bound by lease agreements or cross lease restrictions. This gives you more control over your property, allowing you to make changes without needing agreement from other leaseholders. Of course, any changes will still need to comply with relevant Council requirements. Potential buyers highly value the level of ownership and control afforded to freehold titles.
Competitive Fixed Pricing Available
Most properties will be eligible for our fixed price cross lease conversion offer. This covers all the services required from start to finish, including Planning, Engineering, Surveying, and Legal services, inspection of drainage and utilities, and external fees charged by Auckland Council and Land Information NZ. Our multi-disciplinary team will manage the whole conversion process, providing friendly expert advice along the way.
Let’s look at the 5 key steps to ensure a smooth property conversion.
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Get to know your cross lease neighbours
Start by having a friendly discussion with your cross lease neighbours and reach an agreement with them about your plans.
Since all owners of a cross lease property have a say in its future, it’s important to obtain written approval from your neighbours for your conversion (subdivision) plans. This is also a good time to discuss the sharing of costs and consider documenting a financial agreement.
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We obtain a resource consent for you
We’ll survey your property, confirm it meets planning regulations, and evaluate any driveway or drainage adjustments needed for your subdivision conversion. We’ll ensure you’re satisfied with the proposed boundaries, then prepare a resource consent application for Council approval.
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We obtain consents for any site works required
If the driveway needs to be widened or strengthened, or if you have shared wastewater or stormwater connections, or water supply that need to be separated, we’ll prepare detailed plans for Auckland Council approval.
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You arrange works on site
Once all the consents are approved, the site work can begin. If you don’t have a contractor, we can recommend some reputable ones to you. Our designs aim to minimise disruption and cost.
We can also take care of managing the contractors and overseeing the construction works for you. This is a process that many clients find to be a great time-saver, providing them with added peace of mind. Our engineers diligently monitor the progress and coordinate the necessary inspections and sign-offs.
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We complete the cross lease conversion
Finally, our surveyors mark the new boundaries on site and prepare the data used by Land Information NZ to make them official. Next, it’s time for you to contact your lawyer. They need to apply for the new title records for your transformed freehold property.
Handy Definitions
A legal agreement where all owners have a share of the value of the whole property, and houses and other areas on the site are designated for the use of a particular owner exclusively.
A subdivision where new boundaries are created to divide the property into separately owned sections.
A legal document which gives someone the right to use part of another property for a particular purpose, most commonly for access or to allow for drainage or shared walls
An electronic record of your property ownership which includes the size of the land and any legal rights or restrictions, including whether a property is cross lease or freehold.