Stop! Your Lease Extension in Chelmsford Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford lease extension


Main reasons to commence your Chelmsford lease extension today:

Increase your lease and increase your Chelmsford property value

The closer a domestic lease in Chelmsford gets to zero years unexpired, the the greater the reduction in the value of the property. Where the residual term has, more than 99 years to run then this decrease may be fractional nevertheless there will become a point in time when a lease has less than 80 years unexpired as part of the premium you will incur is what is known as a marriage value. This could increase sharply the cost. It is the main reason why you should extend the lease sooner rather than later. The majority of flat owners in Chelmsford will meet the qualifying criteria; that being said a conveyancer will be able to advise if you qualify to extend your lease. In limited situations you may not qualify, the most common reason being that you have owned the property for less than two years.

An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold

Leasehold premises in Chelmsford with in excess of 100 years outstanding 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 property. In such situations there is often little to be gained by purchasing the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and service charges merit it.

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

Most high street banks are making their criteria more stringent and a meaningful number now expect flats to have a minimum of 60 if not 70 years left once the mortgage has expired. As many flats in Chelmsford were created in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s this means many now need to be extended if they if they are to be mortgageable.

Lender Requirement
Halifax Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Lloyds TSB Scotland Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
National Westminster Bank Mortgage term plus 30 years.

For Shared Ownership, the remaining term of the lease must be at least 75 years plus the term of the mortgage at the outset 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.
TSB Minimum of 70 years at mortgage commencement, with 30 years remaining at mortgage redemption.

Why use us for your lease extension in Chelmsford?

Lease extensions in Chelmsford can be a difficult process. We recommend you secure 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 a wealth of experience dealing with Chelmsford lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Chelmsford Lease Extension Example Cases:

Kate, Chelmsford, Essex,

After protracted discussions with the landlord of her studio flat in Chelmsford, Kate started the lease extension process just as the lease was nearing the all-important eighty-year threshold. The legal work was concluded in January 2013. The freeholder’s costs were negotiated to below 650 GBP.

Chelmsford case:

Ms Alisha Martin moved into a first floor apartment in Chelmsford in October 1997. The dilemma was if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) compensation to the landlord would be to prolong the lease by 90 years. Similar residencies in Chelmsford with a long lease were in the region of £218,000. The mid-range ground rent payable was £45 invoiced quarterly. The lease came to a finish on 20 October 2089. Given that there were 63 years left we approximated the premium to the freeholder for the lease extension to be within £17,100 and £19,800 plus professional charges.

Chelmsford case:

Dr Reuben Bell moved into a basement apartment in Chelmsford in May 2004. We are asked if we could approximate the compensation to the landlord would likely be for a ninety year lease extension. Identical residencies in Chelmsford with 100 year plus lease were worth £265,000. The average ground rent payable was £50 invoiced yearly. The lease ended on 25 February 2100. Considering the 74 years left we estimated the compensation to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £9,500 and £11,000 exclusive of professional charges.