The value of Abridge leasehold residential property falls as the lease term becomes shorter and this will have an impact on its saleability. The expense of extending the lease can escalate significantly once the unexpired lease term is less than eighty years
Leasehold residencies in Abridge with over one hundred years left on the lease are often regarded as a ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease is worth the same as a freehold interest in your property. In such situations there is often little to be gained by buying the freehold unless savings on ground rent and service charges justify it.
| Lender | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Barclays plc | Leases with less than 70 years at the commencement of the mortgage should be declined (see exception below). Leases with greater than 70 years but fewer than 85 years remaining must be referred to issuing office. Leases with fewer than 70 years should only be referred to the issuing office where the following scenario applies, as discretion may be applied subject to bank approval: • Property is located in any of the following prestigious developments: Cadogan, Crown, Grosvenor, Howard de Walden, Portman or Wellcome Trust Estates in Central London AND • The value of the property subject to the short remaining term is £500,000 or more AND • The loan to value does not exceed 90% for purchases, 90% like for like re-mortgages, 80% for re-mortgages with any element of capital raising and 80% for existing Barclays mortgage borrowers applying for additional borrowing; |
| Halifax | Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage. |
| Santander | You must report the unexpired lease term to us and await our instructions if: 1. the unexpired term assumed by our valuer is between 55 and 82 years, but the actual unexpired term differs by more than one year (whether longer or shorter); or 2. the unexpired term assumed by our valuer is more than 82 years but the actual unexpired term is less than 82 years; or 3. no valuation report is provided However, we will not accept a lease where on expiry of the mortgage: (i) less than 50 years remain and all or part of the loan is repaid on an interest-only basis: or (ii) less than 30 years remain and the loan is repaid on a capital and interest basis We will accept a lease that has been extended under the provisions of the Leasehold Reform Act 1993 provided statutory compensation would be available to the leaseholder. |
| Royal Bank of Scotland | Mortgage term plus 30 years. |
| Virgin | 85 years at the time of completion. If it's less, we require it to be extended on or before completion. |
Engaging our service will provide you enhanced control over the value of your Abridge leasehold, as your property will be more valuable and saleable in terms of lease length should you wish to sell. The conveyancers that we work with have a wealth of experience of handling many hundreds of lease extensions or freehold purchase transactions.
Last year Omar, started to get near to the 80-year mark with the lease on his two bedroom flat in Abridge. In buying his property two decades ago, the lease term was of little significance. by good luck, he became aware that he would soon be paying an escalated premium for Extending the lease. Omar was able to extend his lease at the eleventh hour last September. Omar and the landlord who owned the flat above eventually settled on a premium of £6,000 . If the lease had gone to less than eighty years, the price would have increased by at least £950.
Last Christmas we were e-mailed by Mr and Mrs. U Morel , who owned a garden apartment in Abridge in January 2010. The question was if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) compensation to the landlord would likely be to extend the lease by 90 years. Identical properties in Abridge with a long lease were valued around £260,000. The average ground rent payable was £50 collected monthly. The lease ended on 22 November 2097. Having 72 years left we estimated the premium to the freeholder to extend the lease to be within £9,500 and £11,000 not including costs.
An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement matter before the tribunal for a Abridge property is 201 & 201a St. Barnabas Road in October 2013. The Tribunal decided that the price to be paid by the Applicants for the freehold interest is £20,071. This case affected 2 flats. The unexpired lease term was 69.26 years.