What is the difference between a covenant and an easement?

A covenant is a promise registered on a title that restricts how land can be used, such as a building or fencing rule. An easement is a right over someone else's land, such as a right of way or a right to run services across it. Both are registered against the title.

What does it cost to create or vary one?

Costs usually include legal fees to draft and register the instrument, a surveyor if a plan is needed, LINZ registration fees, and sometimes compensation to the affected landowner. The total depends on complexity and whether others must agree.

Can I remove an existing easement or covenant?

Sometimes, by agreement with the parties who benefit from it, or in some cases through the courts or the council. It can be involved and is not guaranteed, so get legal advice before relying on being able to remove one.

Land Covenant and Easement Cost Calculator

This calculator estimates the cost of creating, varying or dealing with a land covenant or easement on a property title in New Zealand, the kind of legal arrangement that quietly shapes what you and your neighbours can do with your land. A covenant is a promise registered on the title that restricts use, such as a rule about building materials, fencing or keeping the land free of a second dwelling, while an easement is a right over someone else's land, most commonly a right of way to reach a back section or a right to run water, power or drainage across a neighbour's property. Putting one in place, changing it, or removing it all cost money, and the bills surprise people who assumed a few signatures would do it. You enter the legal fees to draft and register the instrument, any surveyor cost where a plan is needed, the LINZ registration fee, any compensation to the affected landowner, and a contingency, and the calculator totals the likely cost. Use it when subdividing, when a back section needs access, or when negotiating a shared driveway or services run. Whether others must agree, and on what terms, drives both the price and the timeline. This is an indicative estimate only, not legal advice, so engage a property lawyer for your situation.

Calculate.co.nz is proud to be partnered with Premium Homes, a recognised leader in eco-friendly, sustainable, and energy-efficient homebuilding. With a dedicated team and award-winning experience, they create homes that prioritise health, comfort, and long-term performance. Their founders, Andrew and Kelly, set out to raise the standard of residential construction in New Zealand by combining practical building expertise with a clear commitment to doing things better for homeowners.

Legal fees

Survey / plan

LINZ fees

Compensation

Contingency

$13,500

indicative cost of the covenant or easement

Compensation and whether others must agree drive the cost. Indicative only, not legal advice. Engage a property lawyer. Estimate only.

How it works

The calculator adds the legal fees, surveyor or plan cost, LINZ registration fees, any compensation to the affected landowner, and a contingency into a single indicative total for putting the covenant or easement in place or changing it.

Worked example

Legal fees of 3,500 dollars, a 3,000 dollar survey, 500 dollars of LINZ fees, 5,000 dollars of compensation and a 1,500 dollar contingency total about 13,500 dollars.

Related calculators

Subdivision Cost: subdividing land.
Cross-Lease to Freehold: converting title.
Land Holding Cost: cost to hold land.
Property Legal Fees Calculator: legal fees.

If you've found a bug, or would like to contact us, or learn more about James Graham and Calculate.co.nz.

Calculate.co.nz is partnered with Interest.co.nz for New Zealand's highest quality calculators and financial analysis.

Calculate.co.nz is the sister site of CalculatorHub.com, the world's largest calculator website by tool count.

All calculators and tools are provided for educational and indicative purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.

Calculate.co.nz is proudly part of the Realtor.co.nz group, New Zealand's leading property transaction literacy platform, helping Kiwis understand the home buying and selling process from start to finish. Whether you're a first home buyer navigating your first property purchase, an investor evaluating your next acquisition, or a homeowner planning to sell, Realtor.co.nz provides clear, independent, and trustworthy guidance on every step of the New Zealand property transaction journey.

Calculate.co.nz is also partnered with Health Based Building and Premium Homes to promote informed choices that lead to better long-term outcomes for Kiwi households.

Calculate.co.nz is hosted in Auckland via SiteHost new Zealand.

All content on this website, including calculators, tools, source code, and design, is protected under the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). No part of this site may be reproduced, copied, distributed, stored, or used in any form without prior written permission from the owner.

About & trust: Why Calculate is NZ's most comprehensive · By the Numbers · How we compare · Editorial standards · How we keep data current · NZ finance glossary · Research & data · Financial literacy NZ · About · Privacy policy · Terms of use

Reviewed and maintained. Last reviewed 2026-07-02 and checked on a twice-monthly cycle against IRD, RBNZ and Stats NZ. How we keep data current.