Stop! Your Lease Extension in Bournemouth Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Bournemouth 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 Bournemouth 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.

Why you should commence your Bournemouth lease extension


Why you should commence your Bournemouth lease extension today:

A Bournemouth leasehold property depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

Bournemouth leases on residential deteriorating in value. if your lease has approximately 90 years left, you should start thinking about a lease extension. It is important to recognise that it is that it is desirable for your lease extension to take place before the term of the current lease dips below 80 years - otherwise a higher premium will be due. Flat owners in Bournemouth will usually be legally entitled to a lease extension; however it’s a good idea to check with a conveyancing solicitor to check your eligibility. In certain situations you may not be entitled. There are also strict timetables and procedures to comply with once the process has started so it’s best to be guided by a conveyancer during the process.

An extended lease is almost the same value as a freehold

It is conventional wisdom that a residential leasehold with in excess of one hundred years remaining is worth approximately the equivalent as a freehold. Where an additional ninety years added to any lease with more than 45 years remaining, the residence will be worth the same as a freehold for many years in the future.

Banks and Building Societies may decide not to finance a property on a short lease

Mortgage companies are really restricting their approach as regards to properties in Bournemouth with short leases. For instance you may find that their lending criteria are stricter and that they adjust interest rates depending on the unexpired lease term. Some may even refuse to lend completely, so where you wanted to sell, your remaining options would be to find a cash buyer, or try your luck at auction thus reducing your market.

Lender Requirement
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;
Barnsley Building Society 60 years from the date of the mortgage application subject to 35 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
Halifax Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
The Mortgage Works Minimum unexpired lease term is 70 years with 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
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

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 70 years
- 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 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 70 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 1.0% 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
- 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
- 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 reviewed and altered on any review basis or methodology

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 1.0% 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 the Issuing Office

Please ensure that all lender enquiries are submitted (with full documentation/requirements) at least 2 weeks prior to exchange to allow sufficient time for review and decisioning.
Royal Bank of Scotland Mortgage term plus 30 years.

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

Lease extensions in Bournemouth can be a difficult process. We recommend you obtain professional help from a conveyancer and valuer well versed in the legislation and lease extension process.

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 a wealth of experience procuring Bournemouth lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Bournemouth Lease Extension Example Cases:

Liam, Bournemouth, Dorset,

Liam owned a 2 bedroom apartment in Bournemouth being marketed with a lease of fraction over 59 years outstanding. Liam informally contacted his freeholder a well known local-based freehold company and enquired on a premium to extend the lease. The freeholder indicated a willingness to extend the lease to 125 years subject to a new rent at the outset set at £200 per annum and increase every 25 years thereafter. No ground rent would be due on a lease extension were Liam to invoke his statutory right. Liam procured expert advice and was able to make a more informed decision and handle with the matter and ending up with a market value flat.

Bournemouth case:

Mr K Parker acquired a purpose-built flat in Bournemouth in March 2001. We are asked if we could estimate the compensation to the landlord would likely be for a ninety year lease extension. Identical flats in Bournemouth with a long lease were in the region of £250,000. The average amount of ground rent was £50 invoiced monthly. The lease lapsed on 21 August 2095. Taking into account 69 years outstanding we estimated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be between £9,500 and £11,000 plus legals.

Bournemouth case:

In 2012 we were e-mailed by Mr and Mrs. B Bonnet who, having moved into a ground floor flat in Bournemouth in August 2000. The question was if we could estimate the compensation to the landlord would likely be to extend the lease by 90 years. Identical premises in Bournemouth with a long lease were worth £290,000. The average amount of ground rent was £60 billed quarterly. The lease came to a finish on 20 June 2106. Taking into account 80 years as a residual term we approximated the compensation to the freeholder for the lease extension to be between £13,300 and £15,400 plus fees.