Irlam Lease Extension - Free Consultation

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Why you should start your Irlam lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

A Irlam leasehold property depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

The nearer a residential lease in Irlam nears to zero years unexpired, the the greater the reduction in the value of the property. Where the lease has, beyond 99 years remaining then this decrease may be negligible however there will become a point in time when a lease has fewer than eighty 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 primary reason why you should consider extending sooner as opposed to later. The majority of flat owners in Irlam will qualify for this right; that being said a lawyer will be able to advise whether you qualify for a lease extension. In certain situations you may not qualify, the most common reason being that you have not been the owner of the property for two years.

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

It is generally accepted that a residential leasehold with over one hundred years unexpired lease term is worth approximately the same as a freehold. Where an additional 90 years added to any lease with more than 30 years remaining, the residence will be worth the same as a freehold for decades to come.

Lending institutions may not loan monies on a short lease

The definition of a short lease varies by mortgage company, yet banks and building societies start to become jittery at around 75 years. This will be problematic as and when you come to market or refinance your property as it will be practically unmortgageable. You might have no imminent plan to sell but when you do your buyer will need to hold off for 2 years before being able to initiate the legal procedures for a lease extension.

Lender Requirement
Birmingham Midshires Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start of the mortgage.
Nationwide Building Society - Our minimum unexpired lease term is 55 years, except where lending is over 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat, in which case our minimum unexpired term is 90 years.
- There must be at least 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term (regardless of the length of lease at the start).

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
- Where lending is over 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat and the unexpired lease term on the offer is 90 years or more - only advise us if the actual lease term is less than 90 years.

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 55 years
- Unexpired lease term less than 90 years where we are lending more than 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat
- 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 is 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 55 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% 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 (Minimum 90 years where we are lending more than 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat)
- 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 (does not apply to Shared Ownership)
- 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 charged which is more than on a peppercorn basis

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% 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 Issuing Office.

Please ensure that all lender enquiries are submitted (with full documentation/requirements) at least 2 weeks prior to exchange to allow sufficient time for review and decisioning.
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
Royal Bank of Scotland Mortgage term plus 30 years.

Why use us for your lease extension in Irlam?

Lease extensions in Irlam can be a difficult process. We recommend you obtain guidance from a conveyancer and valuer with experience in lease extensions.

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 Irlam lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Irlam Lease Extension Case Studies:

Riley, Irlam, Greater Manchester

16 months ago Riley, came precariously near to the 80-year threshold with the lease on his leasehold flat in Irlam. In buying his home two decades ago, the lease term was of no importance. Thankfully, he became aware that he needed to take steps soon on a lease extension. Riley arranged for a lease extension just ahead of time in July. Riley and the freeholder ultimately agreed on the final figure of £5,000 . If he not met the deadline, the sum would have gone up by at least £975.

Irlam case:

Last April we were e-mailed by Dr G Rodríguez , who was assigned a lease of a basement apartment in Irlam in March 2006. We are asked if we could estimate the compensation to the landlord would be to prolong the lease by ninety years. Similar premises in Irlam with a long lease were worth £255,000. The mid-range ground rent payable was £50 collected every twelve months. The lease expired on 24 April 2095. Taking into account 70 years left we estimated the premium to the freeholder to extend the lease to be between £9,500 and £11,000 plus professional charges.

Irlam case:

Last September we were e-mailed by Dr L Mitchell , who moved into a first floor apartment in Irlam in October 2012. We are asked if we could approximate the premium would likely be to prolong the lease by 90 years. Comparable residencies in Irlam with 100 year plus lease were valued around £246,800. The average ground rent payable was £60 invoiced monthly. The lease concluded in 2075. Having 50 years remaining we calculated the premium to the freeholder to extend the lease to be between £44,700 and £51,600 exclusive of legals.