New war on NIMBYs
New Zealand’s urban areas could look very different in the coming years if a sweeping townhouse bill passes into law.
Rent Abatement – Levelling the playing field
Changes to the Property Law Act mean that tenants may now be able to claim a rent abatement even when the lease agreement does not provide for this. In this article we set out the changes and what it means for landlords and tenants.
No Work, No Pay? Not likely – The status of employees unable to work during lockdown
Do employers need to pay employees who are ready and willing but unable to work from home? The short answer is – most probably. Guidance from the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and the Employment Court suggests that this obligation is not displaced by the inability of employees to work remotely.
Duplexes without resource consent?
Changes are coming to help with housing developments under the Resource Management Act.
Planning to use Kiwisaver for your first home purchase? Here are 5 things you need to know
Kiwisaver can be a great cash injection for your first home purchase. However many purchasers aren’t sure how the process works, resulting in frustration, delays and even not being able to access your Kiwisaver fund. This article explores how Kiwisaver works in practice and what you need to know.
The Importance of Shareholder Agreements
When you are entering into a new venture the opportunities seem endless and everyone is positive about goals and working relationships. However, as we unfortunately see so often in our litigation team, things do not always go to plan. A well drafted shareholder agreement can be worth its weight in gold when working relationships sour.
Incorporated Society Dispute Resolution – What options do you have?
We often have enquiries from clients or prospective clients relating to disputes within an incorporated society that they are affiliated with (e.g. as members or serving on society committees). People often ask us what they can do to resolve these disputes and how they can make claims when the society leaders are not acting in the best interests of the society. This article sets out the different options available when there are disputes within an incorporated society and highlights some deficiencies in our current law.
Land covenants that last – a brief review of recent attempts to modify land covenants
Land covenants that last – a brief review of attempts to modify land covenants There are circumstances where an owner of property has (or would have but for a settlement reached) been able to modify a land covenant using the provisions of s317(1) of the Property Law Act 2007 (PLA). In most instances, if you have a land covenant registered against the title to your property, it is there forever and cannot be modified or extinguished. This article looks at cases attempting to modify land covenants.
Ready to open your bar or a bottle store?
So, you have finally decided to open a new bar or a bottle store with the aim of creating more job opportunities and helping the economic recovery post Covid19 lockdown. This article focuses on the importance of completing a thorough due diligence before you purchase the property or sign a lease agreement. This article also highlights issues that new applicants, as well as existing licensees, are facing in terms of application processing times post Covid19 lockdown.
What does it mean to give your affected party approval under the Resource Management Act 1991?
When an activity such as development of a site or a change in the use of land is happening near to you, the Resource Management Act 1991 section 95E provides that the local authority can decide on whether to give limited notification to the proposal or to publicly notify the proposal.