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Who is Good Title?

Our dedicated team are here to make changing your cross lease to fee simple easy. We have all the right relationships with other services to project manage and complete this subdivision for you.

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Who is Good+Title

Good+Title is a professional joint venture service between specialist property law firm DwyerLaw and the long established innovative surveying practice Survus Consultants, using our combined experience and expertise to bring you a ‘one-stop agency’ and fixed prices for Change of Tenure subdivisions in both the Auckland District and wider Canterbury areas.

Why Good+Title?

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The normal process

Our process

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About us

We are offering fixed prices based on our previous experience in these types of developments and take the risk on under-performance. We have done dozens of these so have them down to a pretty fine art.

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We are somewhat unusual for lawyers.  We know most lawyers are unwilling to have conversations about pricing, or offer fixed price deals.  We like to be different.

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Don't get us wrong -- we know you want your greatest asset looked after, and you don't want a 'cut-price' lawyer.  We are top quality property specialists, with experience from top law firms in New Zealand and overseas, and we know property inside-out. This means our clients don't waste money by having to have us research the issues -- we already know the issues and the answers.

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But what we also are is transparent and efficient -- we are incentivised to properly project manage our work, drive efficiencies, and deliver results.

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We are also somewhat different for a survey company.

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With a staff of 18, we run the subdivision process like a production line - each job will be worked on by no less than 8 different staff, each one doing the part of the process that they specialise in - planning, engineering, surveying.

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This brings in greater efficiencies providing a quicker process and better value for you, our clients. 

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We have done hundreds of subdivisions, flat plan rectification and conversions, so have these down to a pretty fine art.

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Frequently asked questions

How is the fee split between the owners?

This is completely up to you and your neighbours. Usually, we find that the property owners want to share the fee equally, as everyone is being advantaged. However, there can be some instance where one owner can see a value uplift as being hugely advantageous for them alone, and is prepared to invest the entire fee to get that uplift. Or sometimes there is more benefit to one owner, and the owners agree to split the fee in a way that works for them.



Can I get finance on this?

Absolutely, and we can even help with this. Our experience is that banks much prefer lending on a fee simple property. We have contacts with many mortgage brokers, and can arrange for someone to get in touch to assist with this.



When is the fee paid?

To avoid disputes, and a neighbour later changing their mind and causing issues for the others, we do ask that the fee is paid into the Overend & Associates trust account before work starts. This is a solicitor's trust account, regulated by the New Zealand Law Society, and protected by the Lawyers' Fidelity Fund. ​ Payments are then made out of that account over the duration of the project as set out in our proposal. We keep you fully informed as this occurs.



How long will all of this take?

Unfortunately, a lot of the time is waiting for Council and Land Information approvals. Overall, we recommend that you allow around 3-6 months from start to finish. ​ If you have a cross lease property you are thinking about selling, please get in touch with us as soon as possible so we can kick off this process for you. It is also possible to start the process, and to transfer your rights and obligations under this process to a purchaser while this is ongoing. Please get in touch if you would like to ask about this, as you should include special conditions in your sale and purchase agreement in this instance.



Will you act for my neighbours too?

Yes, and that's one of the key reasons efficiencies can be made. We can do this because it is in all your interests to have the titles converted to fee simple -- so all of your interests are aligned. ​ This is why we work on the basis that this is a pure conversion of title -- so the owners all agree that whatever covenants are on the lease for the protection of one property, those same covenants, word-for-word, are transferred to the new title. This has the result that everyone is in exactly the same position with respect to height covenants, etc, but simply with a much, much better tenure of title.



What are the advantages of using Good+Title

These are many and varied, but largely the main advantage is that the costs are known prior to even starting the process giving certainty and no surprises. In addition, there are the following advantages;

▪ You are dealing with one entity from beginning to end
▪ You are dealing with professionals who know their stuff
▪ We come to you if required – stay home and enjoy the roses
▪ There are no ongoing bills, physical works to organise, tradesmen to deal with
▪ Plus, we love dealing with people, especially you!



How does it work?

Simple. And that is our intention. You make an initial enquiry on our website, freephone or email and provide a few details about yourself and your property (street address is all we usually need for your property). We will then investigate the property, existing leases and relevant details. Then we provide you with a combined fee proposal to undertake the job from beginning to end.



Are you able to be the lawyers for my neighbours too?

Yes, it is the intention, and one of the main reasons efficiencies can be made, that Overend & Associates undertake the legal work for all parties. We can do this because it is in all your interests to have the titles converted to fee simple, so all your interests are aligned. This is why we work on the basis that this is a pure conversion of title, so the owners all agree that whatever covenants are on the lease for the protection of one property, those same covenants, word-for-word, are transferred to the new title. This is so that everyone is in exactly the same position with respect to height covenants, etc, but simply with a much, much better tenure of title. If anyone did want to renegotiate this, then we would not be able to act for all property owners, as your interests may not align. This is why we need the owner’s agreement upfront to make sure everyone is on the same page.



We have helped many clients with cross lease properties, we can help you too.

Our knowledgeable team are ready to answer any questions you have about your cross lease. 

CONTACT US TODAY