Property Types
Every New Zealand property type explained. Understand what you're buying, the risks specific to each type, and exactly what due diligence you need.
Freehold
Freehold (fee simple) is the most complete form of property ownership in New Zealand. The owner has full rights to the land and any buildings on it, with no co-owner dependencies or lease arrangements. Freehold is the most common and most straightforward title type for standalone houses.
Cross-Lease
Cross-lease is a uniquely New Zealand form of ownership where multiple owners share the freehold of a single parcel of land and lease their individual dwellings from each other. Each owner's dwelling is defined by a flats plan registered with LINZ.
Unit Title
Unit title is the standard ownership structure for apartments, townhouses, and multi-unit developments in New Zealand. Each owner holds title to their individual unit and a share of common property, managed by a body corporate.
Leasehold
Leasehold means you own the buildings but lease the land from a separate landowner (often a council, iwi, church, or trust). You pay ground rent for the right to occupy the land, and the lease has a fixed term.
Lifestyle Block
A lifestyle block (also called a lifestyle property or smallholding) is a rural or semi-rural property typically ranging from 0.5 to 20 hectares. They offer a rural lifestyle without the scale of a commercial farm. Most are freehold title.
Commercial Property
Commercial property encompasses offices, retail spaces, warehouses, and industrial buildings. Ownership is typically freehold or unit title, with commercial leases to tenants governed by the Property Law Act 2007.
Bare Land
Bare land (vacant land) is a property with no buildings. It's purchased for future development, whether that's building a home, subdividing, or holding as an investment. Title is usually freehold.
Company Share
Company share (also called company title) is an uncommon form of property ownership where a company owns the building and land, and each apartment or unit owner holds shares in the company rather than a title to their individual unit.
Māori Freehold Land
Māori freehold land is land that has been through the Māori Land Court and is held under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 (Māori Land Act). It is owned communally by iwi, hapū, or whānau members. Buying or leasing Māori freehold land involves a distinct legal process governed by the Māori Land Court.
Right of Way Properties
A right of way (ROW) property is accessed via a shared driveway or accessway rather than directly from a public road. The right of way is typically registered as an easement on the title, granting legal access across another person's land to reach your property.
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