Property Law
Subdivisions & Cross‑Leasing
Whether you're subdividing land, updating a cross‑lease, or converting to freehold — we make the legal process straightforward and stress‑free.
Get a Quote → Cross‑Lease to Freehold Conversions →
How We Help
Our property team handles all legal aspects of subdivisions and cross‑lease matters throughout New Zealand — from initial advice through to new titles being issued by LINZ.
Subdivisions
Fee simple subdivisions, boundary adjustments, amalgamations, and right‑of‑way creation. Your surveyor prepares the resource consent application and liaises with your planner and local council. We handle all the legal documentation.
Cross‑Lease Updates
Surrender of existing leases and registration of new leases to reflect additions, decks, garages, or other building changes. Fixes defective cross‑lease titles so they match reality.
Unit Title Conversions
Converting cross‑leases or existing dwellings into unit titles, including preparation of body corporate rules and unit plans.
Cross-lease to Freehold Conversions
Converting cross‑lease properties to fee simple (freehold) titles — increasing property value and removing shared ownership complexities. Learn more →
The Subdivision Process
Every subdivision is different, but most follow these core steps. Your surveyor drives the planning and consenting process; we handle the legal work.
Resource Consent
Your surveyor prepares the resource consent application and liaises with your planner and local council for approval.
Survey & Site Works
A licensed cadastral surveyor defines the new boundaries. Council may require infrastructure like separate services.
Legal Documentation
We prepare easement instruments, land covenants, obtain mortgagee consent, liaise with neighbours' lawyers, and draft all LINZ documents.
Council Approval
Once conditions are met and the survey is approved, council issues a s.224(c) certificate.
New Titles Issued
We register all documents with LINZ and new separate titles are issued.
Our Legal Fees
All estimates include our professional fees, LINZ registration fees, title searches, and GST. We provide a written quote tailored to your matter before you commit.
Subdivision
- Includes 1 mortgage discharge & re‑registration
- Includes 1 easement instrument prepared by us, and 1 easement instrument prepared by other lawyers
- Add ~$275 plus GST per additional title
Cross‑Lease
💰 Save 20% — Pay on Time
The prices shown are our discounted fees, payable within 7 days of the due date. Normal fees (20% more) apply after that.
The actual fee depends on the number of easements required and the number of existing mortgages that need to be discharged and re‑registered. Where easements are in favour of third parties (such as Council, Chorus, or utility companies), these estimates do not include the legal fees payable for easements prepared by other lawyers. For cross‑lease matters, they do not include fees payable to co‑owners' lawyers. LINZ fees are subject to change. We provide a final written quote once your surveyor sends us the LT plan.
Request a Quote
Tell us about your subdivision or cross‑lease matter and we'll send you a personalised estimate — usually within 1 business day.
Subdivision Quote
Fee simple subdivision, boundary adjustment, or amalgamation.
Request Subdivision Quote →Cross‑Lease Quote
Surrender of lease(s), new lease(s), or freehold conversion.
Request Cross‑Lease Quote →Why does your cross‑lease title matter?
If the building footprint has changed since the original flats plan was registered, your cross‑lease title may be "defective." This can cause problems when selling, refinancing, or insuring your property. We can fix this by updating the flats plan, or by converting to freehold.
Need Help with a Subdivision or Cross‑Lease?
We offer fixed‑fee estimates for most subdivision and cross‑lease work.
🏡 Buying or Selling Too?
Ask about combining your subdivision or cross-lease work with your conveyancing for a package fee. Property law clients receive a 50% discount on Wills & EPAs.
Ready to Talk?
Request a personalised quote online, ask us anything, or if you’re a new client, book a free 15-minute meeting to meet our team and see if we’re the right fit.
The introductory meeting is a chance to meet our team — it is not for legal advice.