Dolwyddelan Lease Extension - Free Consultation

Before you progress with your lease extension in Dolwyddelan
Get a quote from one of our lease extension experts with over 20 years experience.

Let them guide you for FREE on the various options available to you.

It may end up saving you thousands.

Why you should start your Dolwyddelan lease extension


Main reasons to start your Dolwyddelan lease extension today:

Increase your lease and increase your Dolwyddelan property value

Dolwyddelan leases on residential deteriorating in value. if your lease has in the region of 90 years left, you should start thinking about a lease extension. It is important to recognise that it is that it is desirable for a lease extension to take place before the term of the existing lease dips lower than eighty years - otherwise a higher premium will be due. Flat owners in Dolwyddelan will mostly be legally entitled to a lease extension; however It would be wise to check with a lawyer to confirm if you qualify. In certain cases you may not be entitled. There are also strict deadlines and steps to follow once the process is initiated so it’s prudent to be guided by a conveyancing solicitor during the process.

An extended lease is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold premises in Dolwyddelan with in excess of 100 years unexpired on the lease are often regarded as a ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your premises. In such situations there is often little upside in buying the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and service charges justify it.

Mortgage lenders may decide not to loan monies with a short lease

Whether or not the lease is be regarded as a short lease varies by mortgage company, yet banks and building societies start to get jittery at around 75 years. This will be problematic as and when you wish to sell or remortgage your flat as it will be effectively unmortgageable. Even though you might not have an imminent intention to sell but when you do your purchaser must wait a couple of years before being able to exercise the right to a an extension to the lease.

Lender Requirement
Accord Mortgages 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.
Birmingham Midshires Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Chelsea 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.
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

What makes us experts in Dolwyddelan lease extensions?

Using our service will provide you increased control over the value of your Dolwyddelan leasehold, as your property will be more valuable and marketable in terms 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.

Dolwyddelan Lease Extension Example Cases:

Liam, Dolwyddelan, Conwy,

Liam owned a 2 bedroom flat in Dolwyddelan on the market with a lease of fraction over 59 years outstanding. Liam on an informal basis spoke with his landlord a well known Manchester-based freehold company and enquired on a premium to extend the lease. The freeholder indicated a willingness to grant an extension taking the lease to 125 years subject to an increased rent to £100 yearly. No ground rent would be payable on a lease extension were Liam to invoke his statutory right. Liam procured expert legal guidance and secured an acceptable resolution without going to tribunal and ending up with a market value flat.

Dolwyddelan case:

Last Summer we were e-mailed by Dr S Martínez , who moved into a studio flat in Dolwyddelan in September 2012. We are asked if we could approximate the premium could be to prolong the lease by ninety years. Similar residencies in Dolwyddelan with 100 year plus lease were valued around £267,600. The mid-range ground rent payable was £65 billed annually. The lease expired on 19 April 2091. Given that there were 67 years unexpired we estimated the premium to the freeholder to extend the lease to be within £14,300 and £16,400 not including legals.

Dolwyddelan case:

Last Summer we were phoned by Dr D Bertrand , who bought a one bedroom flat in Dolwyddelan in October 1995. We are asked if we could shed any light on how much (roughly) premium would be to prolong the lease by 90 years. Identical residencies in Dolwyddelan with an extended lease were in the region of £206,200. The average ground rent payable was £55 invoiced annually. The lease expired in 2080. Taking into account 56 years as a residual term we calculated the compensation to the landlord to extend the lease to be between £31,400 and £36,200 exclusive of legals.