August Newsletter 2024

Looking to the horizon

This month we celebrated Gene Wintle who completed his studies towards a Certificate in Surveying through Connexis. Well done, Gene! The team is proud of your hard work and achievements.

Last month Joe had an incredible few days in Queenstown for part two of the CSNZ business academy, learning about how we can improve our business.

We value surrounding ourselves with thought leaders in the industry and the highlight of the course for Joe was the session on people and culture, an area we have focused on at Horizon since day 1, but we are always looking to learn and improve.

Joe is looking forward to the final part of the course to be held in Auckland next month.

Understanding Auckland Council’s Position on Crosslease to Fee Simple Conversions

In a recent decision, the Environment Court clarified the conditions under which Auckland Council can impose requirements on crosslease to fee simple conversions. This ruling has significant implications for property owners and developers in Auckland.

The Key Takeaways:

Court’s Decision:

The Environment Court has determined that the Council cannot impose conditions on the functionality of existing stormwater and wastewater infrastructure for controlled activity crosslease conversions. However, the location of these services can still be conditioned.

Council’s Stance:

If an application provides sufficient information about existing development and infrastructure, the Council will not require additional details or impose further conditions. This includes ensuring all service connections are within the site boundary or legally protected.

Detailed Information Required:

Applicants must submit comprehensive details about the existing development, including infrastructure location and legal mechanisms. If the information is lacking, the Council will request it through the section 92 process.

Compliance Measures:

Any unauthorized servicing issues identified in CCTV reports or during site visits will be reported to the compliance team. Applications that do not meet the necessary standards will be treated as discretionary activities.

This decision underscores the importance of thorough preparation and accurate information in the application process. For more detailed guidance, get in touch with our professional team who can guide you through the cross lease process.

I often get asked should I convert my cross lease to a fee simple property. Whilst every site is different, in most circumstances it is well worth undertaking this process. - Joe Fletcher Director