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Top reasons for Crediton lease extension


Main reasons to start your Crediton lease extension today:

Increase your lease and increase your Crediton property value

The market value of a leasehold property in Crediton is impacted by how many years the lease has remaining. If it is close to or less than 80 years you should expect difficulties on re-sale, so it is recommended to arrange for a lease extension prior to buying. It is ideal to start the lease extension process when a lease still has 82 years remaining so that all matters can be finalised ahead of the 80 year cut off point. Statute enables Crediton qualifying lessees to acquire a lease extension of ninety years in addition to the remaining length of the lease at a peppercorn rent (that is, rent free). The intention of the valuation is to determine the amount payable by the lessee to the freeholder for the acquisition of the lease extension.

Crediton property with a lease extension has roughly 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 same as a freehold. Where an additional ninety years added to all but the shortest lease, the residence will be worth the same as a freehold for many years in the future.

Lending institutions may not lend with a short lease

Almost all mortgage companies will be unwilling to lend on a lease with less than 70 years unexpired - although this varies between mortgage companies. A purchaser will undoubtedly encounter difficulties to obtain a mortgage and this will result in your Crediton property being difficult to dispose of or to obtain finance on.

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.
Halifax Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start of the mortgage.
Skipton Building Society 85 years from the date of completion of the mortgage

For Buy to Let cases:
- lettings must not breach any of the lessee’s covenants; and
- consent of the lessor to lettings must be obtained if necessary
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

Why use us for your lease extension in Crediton?

Lease extensions in Crediton can be a difficult process. We recommend you procure guidance from a conveyancer and surveyor 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 Crediton lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Crediton Lease Extension Case Studies:

Abbie, Crediton, Devon,

Off the back of lengthy correspondence with the landlord of her ground floor flat in Crediton, Abbie started the lease extension process as the eighty year mark was swiftly advancing. The lease extension was finalised in March 2006. The landlord’s charges were kept to an absolute minimum.

Crediton case:

Dr Felix Díaz completed a studio flat in Crediton in August 1997. The question was if we could estimate the premium would be for a ninety year lease extension. Comparable properties in Crediton with an extended lease were worth £285,000. The average amount of ground rent was £55 collected yearly. The lease ran out on 25 April 2103. Taking into account 79 years outstanding we estimated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be between £13,300 and £15,400 plus expenses.

Crediton case:

Last Summer we were called by Dr Natalie González , who took over the lease of a one bedroom flat in Crediton in September 2009. The question was if we could estimate the compensation to the landlord would be to extend the lease by a further 90 years. Comparative premises in Crediton with a long lease were valued around £193,400. The average ground rent payable was £65 collected yearly. The lease terminated in 2083. Having 59 years left we approximated the premium to the freeholder to extend the lease to be within £21,900 and £25,200 plus legals.