Cross-lease propertiesNgā whenua rīhi-whiti

Carrying out work on a cross-lease property

When you have an interest in a cross-lease property, you and your neighbours own all of the land.

This means that while you will each have a separate lease for your house or flat you have shared ownership of the entire site.

The lease may also specify exclusive use areas for each dwelling and other restrictions, e.g. colours that the house exterior can be painted.

Working on the common property

If you are planning any work that relates to the common property, e.g. driveways or drainage, then you and your neighbours need to agree on the work to be carried out, before the project starts.

Renovating and altering your house

If you plan to renovate or alter your house, you may need to get permission from your neighbours (including other lease holders), depending on the terms of your lease and what you plan to do. If your work involves extending your building, or adding structures you will most likely need:

• permission from all the other lease holders
• deposit of a new title plan – this requires an additional survey and a variation of the cross lease
• a resource consent
• a building consent.
  
  

Contact us

• If you are thinking of doing work on your property, contact us and find out what can be done on your site. Depending on where in Napier you live, there will be different rules that apply.
• Call us on 06 835 7579 and ask for the duty planner.