Worth knowing.
Plain-English notes on the legal questions business owners and families actually ask us — no jargon, no filler.
5 things to consider before buying off the plans
Finding your dream home can be hard, especially in today’s property market, which is why more and more of our clients are choosing to buy “off the plans”.
Read the articleGet it in writing
The Lowes owned two neighbouring properties. One with a house on it, and one empty section. The house had beautiful sea and mountain views. The empty…
ReadDeposit Dramas
This mainly seems to be occurring when vendors are purchasing a new property, and planning to use the deposit from their sale to pay the deposit for their…
ReadAgency Agreements
It’s (hopefully) second nature to you. You. Must. Have. A. Signed. Agency. Agreement. But some Auckland agents have just learned that lesson the hard way…
ReadEstate Sales - Selling a Loved One’s Home
First things first, do you have the right to sell this property? If there’s a will, then the ‘probate’ process needs to have been completed to empower the…
ReadPre-Settlement Inspection
The pre-settlement inspection is one of the final hurdles before settlement day. Most inspections occur without a hitch. The oven is still there, the heat…
ReadVacant Possession: What Does it Actually Mean?
but a client’s dispute with a vendor has recently had us diving a little deeper into the intricacies of what those words “vacant possession” mean in a…
ReadOverstepping The Boundary?
Our client and their neighbours each own small blocks of rural land. Many years ago, the neighbour built a beautiful 8-wire boundary fence. The problem…
ReadLets Talk About Subdividing!
You wake up early on a Saturday morning, the sun warming the frost left behind by the night that has passed. You take a sip of your morning coffee and…
ReadThe dreaded ‘no CCC issued’
Let’s start with what a CCC is. A Code Compliance Certificate is a formal statement from an authority such as a Council under the Building Act 2004 which…
ReadRefinancing - breaking up with your bank
As your fixed interest rate terms come up for renewal (and with home loan interest rates hitting record lows) you’ll want to make sure you have the best…
ReadKnowing your covenants from your consent notices
Most properties will have at least one ‘interest’ listed on its record of title. Some of these are relatively easy to understand. Some are not so clear.…
ReadIssues over the fence
When showing buyers through a property, you always want to focus on a property’s best features. As you all know all too well, you also need to point out…
ReadSettlement Day
Settlement day is easy, right? – The purchaser just hands over the money and the vendor hands over the keys. Done. Well, not always. There are a few extra…
ReadCross Leases
Cross leases are confusing. To the lawyer who dreamed up this arrangement in the 1950s: We are not your biggest fans. Questions about cross lease titles…
ReadCommercial Leases - Choosing the right tenant
In these times of economic uncertainty many businesses are struggling. Some of them may be finding it tough to pay their rent, and some may be going out…
ReadNeighbours at war? What should you do?
Disputes with your neighbour can be difficult at the best of times and affect your relationship moving forward. So, what can you do (legally) if your…
ReadThe difference between a lawyer and a conveyancing practitioner
The terms ‘lawyer’ and ‘conveyancer’ are often used interchangeably, and we’re often asked what the difference is. Basically, the difference is training…
ReadExercise Cancellation Right correctly!
The cancellation of the sale of a $1.2 million Dunedin home has been in the press recently. In short, the original buyer pulls out of a contract. The…
ReadBe aware of your sales pitch...
Whether you're a lawyer or a real estate agent, a complaint is the thing we all fear. It's not just the time it takes in dealing with it, but the…
ReadDon't sell too soon: What to do before you list your property
Why the rush to sell your home or rental property? Instead of opting for a quick buck, take the time to make sure everything is in order before you put…
ReadThe ins and outs of Company Share Apartments
Company share apartments look like normal apartments. But there’s something decidedly different about the ownership structure. This difference makes them…
ReadTime to move on? How to handle an ageing trustee
As we’ve recently discussed, New Zealand’s trust laws are likely to undergo a major shake-up. Trusts that were already tricky to manage will become even…
ReadHow to own property with another person
In this post, we’re not discussing why you should own a property with someone else, but HOW you should own a property with someone else. When buying a…
ReadSquatters’ Rights: The unlikely law of Adverse Possession
What do Sir Richard Branson, Sting, Sir Bob Geldof and the Sex Pistols have in common? Apart from the musical connection – Richard Branson founded Virgin…
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