Stop! Your Lease Extension in Dulwich Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Dulwich 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 Dulwich 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 start your Dulwich lease extension


Main reasons to commence your Dulwich lease extension today:

A Dulwich lease depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

There is no doubt about it a leasehold flat or house in Dulwich is a wasting asset as a result of the diminishing lease term. Where the residual term has, over one hundred years remaining then this decrease may be fractional nevertheless there will become a stage when a lease has under than 80 years left as part of the premium you will incur is what is known as a marriage value. This could be significant. It is the primary logic behind why you should extend the lease without delay. Many flat owners in Dulwich will meet the qualifying criteria; that being said a conveyancer can confirm whether you are eligible for a lease extension. In limited situations you may not qualify, the most frequent reason being that you have not been the owner of the property for two years.

Dulwich property with a lease extension is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold properties in Dulwich with more than 100 years left on the lease are sometimes regarded as a ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your home. In such circumstances there is often little to be gained by purchasing the freehold unless savings on ground rent and service charges warrant it.

Lending institutions will not issue a mortgage with a short lease

Most banks and building societies require a lengthy amount of time remaining on a leasehold residence before they will consider it as adequate security. Even if you don't require a mortgage, you should be conscious that it is likely that someone intending to buy your property in the future might well do, so where they can't obtain a mortgage, then the market price of the property will likely be adversely impacted. In the last decade most banks and building societies have increased the required minimum lease length that they are prepared to accept

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;
Lloyds TSB Scotland Minimum 70 years from the date 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
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.

Why use us for your lease extension in Dulwich?

Lease extensions in Dulwich can be a difficult process. We recommend you obtain professional help from a lawyer 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 procuring Dulwich lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Dulwich Lease Extension Example Cases:

Evan, Dulwich, South East London,

Evan was the the leasehold owner of a studio apartment in Dulwich being marketed with a lease of a few days over 61 years left. Evan on an informal basis contacted his landlord being a well known Manchester-based freehold company and enquired on a premium to extend the lease. The freeholder was prepared to agree an extension on non-statutory terms taking the lease to 125 years subject to a new rent to start with set at £150 per annum and doubled every 25 years thereafter. Ordinarily, ground rent would not be payable on a lease extension were Evan to invoke his statutory right. Evan obtained expert legal guidance and secured satisfactory resolution without going to tribunal and ending up with a market value flat.

Dulwich case:

In 2013 we were e-mailed by Mr and Mrs. K Laurent who, having bought a one bedroom apartment in Dulwich in March 2007. We are asked if we could estimate the price would be for a 90 year lease extension. Comparative premises in Dulwich with a long lease were in the region of £205,000. The average ground rent payable was £50 invoiced monthly. The lease finished in 2105. Considering the 79 years as a residual term we estimated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £8,600 and £9,800 exclusive of fees.

Decision in Lewisham

An example of a Lease Extension case for a Dulwich premises is 60 Taymount Grange Taymount Rise in June 2012. The Tribunal determined the premium at £13,346 for a lease extension of a further 90 years This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired term as at the valuation date was 64 years.