Stop! Your Lease Extension in Loughton Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Loughton 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 Loughton 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 commence your Loughton lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

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

The value of Loughton leasehold residential property falls as the lease term becomes shorter and this will have an impact on its saleability. The cost of extending the lease can escalate materialy once the unexpired lease term is less than 80 years

An extended lease is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold residencies in Loughton with in excess of 100 years left on the lease are sometimes referred to as ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease is worth the same as a freehold interest in your premises. In such circumstances there is often little upside in purchasing the freehold unless savings on ground rent and estate charges justify it.

Mortgage lenders may not finance a property with a short lease

Banks and building societies are inclined not lend on short residential leases. You most probably experience difficulties if you need to sell your flat in Loughton if the unexpired lease term is under the criteria set by most lenders. Different lenders have varying criteria but on the whole they are looking for a minimum remaining lease term of seventy years.

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;
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.
Godiva Mortgages 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.
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 Loughton?

Retaining our service gives you increased control over the value of your Loughton leasehold, as your property will be more valuable and marketable in relation to the lease length should you decide to sell. The lawyers that we work with are well versed in the legislation handling many hundreds of lease extensions or freehold purchase transactions.

Loughton Lease Extension Example Cases:

Ellie, Loughton, Essex,

Trailing lengthy negotiations with the freeholder of her one bedroom apartment in Loughton, Ellie initiated the lease extension process just as the lease was nearing the critical eighty-year mark. The transaction was finalised in March 2011. The landlord’s charges were kept to an absolute minimum.

Loughton case:

Last month we were approach by Mr and Mrs. S Bailey , who took over the lease of a purpose-built flat in Loughton in May 2004. The question was if we could shed any light on how much (roughly) premium could be to extend the lease by 90 years. Identical homes in Loughton with a long lease were worth £275,000. The mid-range ground rent payable was £55 invoiced yearly. The lease ended on 24 November 2102. Considering the 76 years remaining we estimated the premium to the freeholder for the lease extension to be within £9,500 and £11,000 exclusive of professional charges.

Decision in Redbridge

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Loughton residence is 201 & 201a St. Barnabas Road in October 2013. The Tribunal decided that the price to be paid by the Applicants for the freehold interest is £20,071. This case related to 2 flats. The unexpired term was 69.26 years.