Stop! Your Lease Extension in Herne Hill Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Herne Hill 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 Herne Hill 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.

Main reasons to commence your Herne Hill lease extension


Why you should start your Herne Hill lease extension today:

A Herne Hill lease depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

Herne Hill residential property held on a long lease is a depreciating asset because a leaseholder merely owns the property for a period of years.

An extended lease is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold properties in Herne Hill with more than one hundred years outstanding on the lease are sometimes 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 estate charges merit it.

Banks and Building Societies may not loan monies with a short lease

Lenders are making their criteria more stringent and a meaningful number now want flats to have a minimum of 60 if not 70 years remaining at the expiry of the mortgage. As a number of flats in Herne Hill were created in the fifties, sixties and seventies this means many now need to be extended if they wish to get a mortgage.

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;
Birmingham Midshires Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Coventry Building Society A minimum of 70 years unexpired lease at completion for all scheme types apart from Lifetime Mortgages (Equity Release), which require a minimum unexpired term of 80 years at completion.
Virgin 85 years at the time of completion. If it's less, we require it to be extended on or before completion.
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 Herne Hill?

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

Herne Hill Lease Extension Example Cases:

Niamh, Herne Hill, South East London,

Following unsuccessful discussions with the freeholder of her leasehold apartment in Herne Hill, Niamh initiated the lease extension process as the eighty year mark was fast coming. The lease extension was concluded in March 2009. The landlord’s costs were kept to an absolute minimum.

Herne Hill case:

In 2014 we were e-mailed by Mrs V Morgan who, having acquired a ground floor apartment in Herne Hill in January 2007. The dilemma was if we could shed any light on how much (roughly) price would likely be for a 90 year extension to my lease. Identical homes in Herne Hill with a long lease were valued around £198,800. The mid-range ground rent payable was £55 invoiced annually. The lease ran out in 2081. Taking into account 55 years outstanding we estimated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be within £33,300 and £38,400 not including fees.

Decision in Lambeth

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Herne Hill flat is 66 Southwell Road in March 2012. By Order of Deputy District Judge Stone dated 25 January 2012 a vesting order was made. The determination of the purchase price was referred to the Tribunal who decided that the amount payable for the freehold should be£29,612.00 This case was in relation to 3 flats. The unexpired lease term was 72.58 years.