Stop! Your Lease Extension in Bishops Cleeve Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Bishops Cleeve are unaware that their original lawyer had a duty to warn them about future mortgageability and saleability issues. Before you pay thousands to your freeholder, let us audit your purchase history. You might have a claim that pays for your lease extension in full

If you are facing a significant premium because your lease in Bishops Cleeve has dropped toward the 80-year mark, your previous lawyer may be at fault. Our panel of experts specialise in recovering lease extension costs from negligent firms who failed to protect your investment.

Top reasons for Bishops Cleeve lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

Increase your lease and increase your Bishops Cleeve property value

Chances are that where you own a flat in Bishops Cleeve you actually own a long leasehold interest over your property

An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold

Leasehold properties in Bishops Cleeve with over 100 years unexpired on the lease are sometimes referred to as ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your property. In such situations there is often little to be gained by buying the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and service charges merit it.

Lending institutions will not loan monies on a short lease

Mortgage lenders have specific criteria when lending funds charged on leasehold homes. Many will simply refrain from lending at all once the residual lease term goes under a specified unexpired lease term. Many Lending institutions will not consider property with an unexpired below seventy years as adequate security. As well as impacting your ability to sell, it is also relevant where you are intending to remortgage your Bishops Cleeve home.

Lender Requirement
Bank of Scotland Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Barclays plc Leases with less than 70 years at the commencement of the mortgage are not acceptable.

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;
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start of the mortgage.
Virgin 85 years at the time of completion. If it's less, we require it to be extended on or before completion.
Yorkshire Building Society 85 years from the date of completion of the mortgage. Please ensure that you explain the implications of a short term lease to the borrower.

Get in touch with one of our Bishops Cleeve lease extension solicitors or enfranchisement solicitors

Engaging our service gives you enhanced control over the value of your Bishops Cleeve leasehold, as your property will be more valuable and marketable in respect of lease length should you want to sell. The lawyers that we work with are well versed in the legislation handling many hundreds of lease extensions or freehold purchase transactions.

Bishops Cleeve Lease Extension Case Studies:

James, Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire,

James was the the leasehold proprietor of a high value flat in Bishops Cleeve on the market with a lease of just over 61 years remaining. James informally contacted his landlord a well known Manchester-based freehold company for a lease extension. The freeholder indicated a willingness to extend the lease to 125 years subject to an increased rent to £125 yearly. Ordinarily, ground rent would not be due on a lease extension were James to invoke his statutory right. James procured expert advice and secured an acceptable resolution informally and readily saleable.

Bishops Cleeve case:

In 2014 we were phoned by Mr and Mrs. E Roux who, having owned a one bedroom apartment in Bishops Cleeve in September 1998. The dilemma was if we could estimate the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease. Identical flats in Bishops Cleeve with an extended lease were valued around £191,400. The average amount of ground rent was £55 invoiced annually. The lease ended on 20 September 2080. Given that there were 54 years outstanding we calculated the premium to the freeholder for the lease extension to be between £34,200 and £39,600 exclusive of professional charges.

Bishops Cleeve case:

In 2011 we were e-mailed by Mrs S Hill who, having bought a basement flat in Bishops Cleeve in May 1997. We are asked if we could approximate the premium would likely be for a 90 year extension to my lease. Similar flats in Bishops Cleeve with an extended lease were valued about £290,000. The average ground rent payable was £45 billed per annum. The lease finished on 5 May 2100. Given that there were 74 years left we estimated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be between £8,600 and £9,800 plus expenses.