July 4, 2022 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

A review of cross-lease issues

It is said that a cross-lease is one of the most complicated forms of property ownership. A cross-lease title creates two or more legal estates having multiple owners who all have a separate lease for the house or flat with an undivided share in ownership of the entire land/site. The lease of the property can also include and specify exclusive use areas for each house or flat, and with 216,000 cross-leases in New Zealand, owners, prospective buyers and lawyers are...

June 30, 2022 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Small Trade Contracts: What you need to know moving forward

Written by Edward Bostock and Tayla Westman Originally published in The Profit The Fair Trading Amendment Act 2021 comes into force in August 2022 and this will place new obligations on businesses while providing new protections for consumers and small businesses. The key change is that “standard form small trade contracts” will now be subject to the unfair contract principle. To understand the significance of this change we first need to identify what constitutes a “small trade contract”? A small trade contract will...

June 20, 2022 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Government Announces Changes to Kainga Ora First Home Loan and First Home Grant

Written by Lois McLintock Home ownership has just become more achievable for New Zealanders following an announcement as part of the 2022 Budget, which come into effect over this month. The Kāinga Ora First Home Loan and First Home Grant will undergo a number of changes that will make owning a home more accessible for a number of Kiwis who haven’t yet had the opportunity to purchase their first home. Changes for first time home buyers House price caps for the First Home Grant...