Cross Lease to Freehold

We manage the entire process from start to finish — so you don’t have to.

Here’s what to expect when you partner with Eliot Sinclair:

Timeframes and Costs for Freehold Conversion

Every cross lease conversion project is unique, and the overall timeframe and cost will depend on your property’s layout, council requirements, and how many owners are involved. At Eliot Sinclair, we provide a tailored project scope and cost estimate upfront — so you can make informed decisions from the start.

Typical timeframes:

Most projects are completed within five to six months, though this can vary based on:

• The ease of achieving agreement between co-owners
• Council processing times for resource consent
• The complexity of any construction related works identified in Council’s resource consent conditions
• Any site-specific legal or surveying complexities

Indicative costs:

Eliot Sinclair’s total cost of converting a cross lease property to freehold typically falls within $16-$18k + GST with the cost typically shared by the co-owners, and includes:

• Identification of site specific issues
• Scheme plan preparation and boundary marking surveys
• Resource consent preparation and submission
• Boundary marking and final legal survey documentation 
• LINZ lodgement
• Coordination with your legal representatives

We’ll talk you through what’s required for your specific site and provide a detailed breakdown of what’s involved — no hidden surprises. We can provide guidance on Council fees, LINZ fees, any likely utility service detection costs (if any) and whether construction related resource consent conditions can be expected. The early involvement of your legal advisor is recommended to establish co-owner agreement and provide advice and coordination of survey and legal documentation for LINZ approval.

What You’ll Need for a Successful Conversion

To ensure a smooth transition from cross lease to freehold, there are a few key things you’ll need to have in place. Eliot Sinclair will guide you through each step, but it helps to be aware of the essentials before getting started.

1. Initial Agreement from All Cross Lease Owners

Converting to a freehold requires the agreement of all owners on the title. Talk to your co-owners, we can help explain the process and the benefits to them.

2. Formal Legal Agreement

Once all co-owners agree to the conversion, we recommend having your legal advisor prepare a simple agreement between all parties to confirm the decision to convert from cross lease to freehold.

3. A copy of Your Current Title and Flats Plan

These documents show how the current cross lease is structured and help our team assess what changes are required for conversion. We can assist you to secure these documents.

4. A Land Survey and Scheme Plan

Our team will undertake a detailed site survey and prepare a scheme plan showing the proposed new freehold boundaries.

5. Resource Consent from Council

Most conversions require resource consent for subdivision. We’ll prepare and lodge this on your behalf and manage any council communications.

6. Legal Support for Title Updates

Your lawyer will help formalise the new freehold titles and cancel the cross lease titles with Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) once the survey and council steps are complete.

If you’re unsure where to start or what applies to your situation, we’re happy to assess your property and provide a clear roadmap tailored to your site.