When I worked for a larger surveying consultancy, I saw the same scenario play out over and over again:

stressed homeowners discovering their cross-lease title was defective

— usually right in the middle of selling their property.

These were genuine people, blindsided at the worst possible time. The defect would be flagged by their solicitor, the sale would be paused, and the owner suddenly had to scramble to fix the issue under pressure.

By then, they had already:

• Lost valuable buyers or missed out on offers

• Faced delays, added legal costs, and sleepless nights

• or have been forced to reduce their price because the term ‘defective title’ is hardly appealing to buyers.

It was frustrating to see — because these issues could have been fixed months or even years earlier, if someone had helped them understand what was coming.

That’s why I started JH Cadastral.

My goal is to help New Zealand homeowners identify and fix defective titles early, before they become a problem.

Doing so gives you time to plan, talk with your neighbours, and even explore whether converting to freehold (fee simple) ownership might be a better long-term option for everyone.

When you catch it early, you’re in control — not reacting under pressure.