Askam In Furness Lease Extension - Free Consultation

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Why you should commence your Askam In Furness lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

Increase your lease and increase your Askam In Furness property value

When it comes to long leasehold property in Askam In Furness, you are actually buying an entitlement to reside in a property for a set period of time. These days flat leases typically tend to be for 99 years or 125. Many leasehold owners become complacent as this seems like a lengthy period of time, you should consider extending the lease sooner as opposed to later. Accepted thinking is that the shorter the lease is the cost of extending the lease gets disproportionately more expensive especially when there are less than eighty years remaining. Residents in Askam In Furness with a lease nearing 81 years remaining should seriously consider extending it without delay. Once the lease term has fewer than 80 years left, under the current statute the freeholder can calculate and levy a greater premium, assessed on a technical calculation, strangely termed as “marriage value” which is payable.

Askam In Furness property with a lease extension is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold properties in Askam In Furness with in excess of one hundred years left on the lease are sometimes referred to as ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease is worth the same as a freehold interest in your home. In such situations there is often little upside in purchasing the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and maintenance charges warrant it.

Mortgage lenders may decide not to issue a mortgage on a short lease

The trend since the credit crunch has been for mortgage companies to tighten lending requirements generally - this has extended to the property over which the home loan is to be charged. This has resulted in the unexpired lease term required by lenders has increased. In the past lenders were content with twenty years plus the term of the loan - routinely fifty year leases but those requirements evolved by the requirement for lengthy leases - many now have a minimum term of 75 years as standard.

Lender Requirement
Barnsley Building Society 60 years from the date of the mortgage application subject to 35 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start of the mortgage.
Lloyds TSB Scotland Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Nationwide Building Society - Our minimum unexpired lease term is 55 years, except where lending is over 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat, in which case our minimum unexpired term is 90 years.
- There must be at least 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term (regardless of the length of lease at the start).

Where the unexpired lease term is different to that recorded on the mortgage offer, the following clarifies if we need to be informed:

Second hand property:
- If the unexpired lease term on the offer is 85 years or more - only advise us if the actual lease term is less than 85 years
- if the unexpired lease term on the offer is less than 85 years – advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported
- For equity share applications - advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported on the offer
- Where lending is over 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat and the unexpired lease term on the offer is 90 years or more - only advise us if the actual lease term is less than 90 years.

New build property:
- If the unexpired lease term stated on the offer is 125 years (flat) / 250 years (house) or more - only advise us if the actual lease term is less than 125 years (flat) / 250 years (house)
- For equity share applications - always advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported on the offer

Lease terms such as ground rent and event fees must be reasonable at all times during the term of the lease and adhere to our requirements below. If you’re unsure as to whether the terms of a lease are unreasonable or onerous, please refer the details to us in plain English for Valuer consideration. If the potentially onerous terms are in relation to the ground rent please include the current ground rent figure per annum, how often it will be reviewed and the price structure it will be reviewed against. See the guidance below.

SECOND HAND PROPERTIES

Unacceptable - advise Issuing Office (Will be declined):
- Unexpired lease term less than 55 years
- Unexpired lease term less than 90 years where we are lending more than 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat
- Less than 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term
- Ground Rent greater than 0.5% of the property value
- Ground Rent doubles less than every 20 years (e.g. doubles every 5, 10 or 15 years) - acceptable if doubles every 20 years or more
- Ground Rent is compounded RPI
- Ground Rent review period is less than or equal to 5 years

Refer to Issuing Office (Valuer will consider any impact on valuation figure and marketability):
- Unexpired lease term is 55 to 85 years
- Ground Rent greater than 0.1% and less than or equal to 0.5% of the property value
- Ground Rent escalation is linked to any indices greater than RPI
- Ground Rent escalation is linked to the value of the building*
- Ground Rent review period is greater than 5 and less than 10 years
- Event clauses exist for normal use e.g. changing the carpet, installing a TV aerial, etc
- Estate Rent Charges greater than £500 p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Service Charges greater than 1% of property value p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Anything that appears onerous, unusual or out of the ordinary

Acceptable (no requirement to advise Issuing Office):
- Unexpired lease term greater than 85 years (Minimum 90 years where we are lending more than 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat)
- Ground Rent less than or equal to 0.1% of the property value
- Ground Rent review period greater than or equal to 10 years
- Ground Rent escalation less than or equal to RPI

NEW BUILD PROPERTIES (includes office conversions)

Unacceptable - advise Issuing Office (Will be declined)
- Unexpired lease term less than 125 years on a new build flat or less than 250 years on a new build house (does not apply to Shared Ownership)
- Any lease which is subject to a Ground Rent (or Annual Rent) being charged which is more than on a peppercorn basis
- Any lease which is subject to a Ground Rent (or Annual Rent) being charged which is more than on a peppercorn basis

Refer to Issuing Office (Valuer will consider any impact on valuation figure and marketability):
- Event clauses exist for normal use e.g. changing the carpet, installing a TV aerial etc
- Estate Rent Charges greater than £500 p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Service Charges greater than 1% of property value p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Anything else appears onerous, unusual or out of the ordinary

Acceptable (no requirement to advise Issuing Office):
- Unexpired lease term greater than or equal to 125 years on a new build flat or greater than or equal to 250 years on a new build house
- A lease subject to a peppercorn Ground Rent (Annual Rent) charges

For the avoidance of doubt, any New Build properties completed but not sold pre-30 June 2022 will only be acceptable if the Lease conforms to the above guidance.

* Where the Ground Rent escalation is linked to the value of the building, please provide the following:
- How is the value of the block/unit currently calculated and if the assessment relates to the block(s), how is the Ground Rent calculated/apportioned per property?
- The current valuation and Ground Rent for each unit
- What is the mechanism for future valuations of the block and how is the Ground Rent calculated/apportioned?
- What is the right of appeal? And is this a documented process within the lease?
- Who bears the cost of the valuation (and appeal) process?
- Confirmation the review period is not less than twenty years.

Lease Extensions

We require all Lease Extensions to be completed under the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 and to meet the above criteria as a minimum. Where you become aware that it does not meet these requirements, please refer to Issuing Office.
Virgin 85 years at the time of completion. If it's less, we require it to be extended on or before completion.

Get in touch with one of our Askam In Furness lease extension solicitors or enfranchisement solicitors

Lease extensions in Askam In Furness can be a difficult process. We recommend you obtain professional help from a lawyer and valuer with experience in this area.

We provide you with an expert from a selection of lease extension solicitors, which ensures a targeted and efficient service as you have a dedicated port of call with an individual lawyer. Our lease extension solicitors have in-depth market knowledge procuring Askam In Furness lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Askam In Furness Lease Extension Case Studies:

Benjamin, Askam In Furness, Cumbria

Last October Benjamin, came precariously near to the 80-year mark with the lease on his studio apartment in Askam In Furness. Having purchased his property 19 years ago, the lease term was of minimal bearing. by good luck, he recognised he needed to take action soon on a lease extension. Benjamin arranged for a lease extension just ahead of time last May. Benjamin and the landlord eventually agreed on an amount of £5,500 . If he had missed the deadline, the price would have increased by at least £1,150.

Askam In Furness case:

Ms Laura Michel owned a purpose-built flat in Askam In Furness in June 2006. We are asked if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) price could be for a ninety year extension to my lease. Comparable premises in Askam In Furness with a long lease were worth £257,800. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £65 billed every twelve months. The lease came to a finish on 10 July 2089. Considering the 65 years left we estimated the compensation to the landlord to extend the lease to be between £18,100 and £20,800 exclusive of expenses.

Askam In Furness case:

Dr David Pérez purchased a first floor apartment in Askam In Furness in February 2004. The question was if we could estimate the price could be to prolong the lease by a further 90 years. Identical flats in Askam In Furness with an extended lease were valued about £191,400. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £55 invoiced quarterly. The lease terminated on 23 September 2078. Having 54 years outstanding we estimated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be within £34,200 and £39,600 plus expenses.