Stop! Your Lease Extension in St Neots Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in St Neots 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 St Neots 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 start your St Neots lease extension


Why you should start your St Neots lease extension today:

A St Neots leasehold property depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

St Neots leases on residential deteriorating in value. Where your lease has in the region of 90 years remaining, you should start thinking about a lease extension. Eighty years is a significant number: when the unexpired term of a lease dips below this level then you begin paying an additional element called marriage value. Flat owners in St Neots will usually be legally entitled to a lease extension; however it’s a good idea to check with a conveyancer to check your eligibility. In some cases you may not be entitled. There are also strict deadlines and formalities to follow once the process is triggered so it’s best to be guided by a lawyer during the process.

An extended lease is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold premises in St Neots with in excess of 100 years remaining on the lease are sometimes regarded as a ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease is worth the same as a freehold interest in your property. In such situations there is often little upside in purchasing the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and maintenance charges justify it.

Mortgage lenders may decide not to grant a mortgage with a short lease

The propensity since the credit crunch has been for lenders to tighten lending criteria across the board - this has extended to the types of security over which the mortgage is to be granted. This has resulted in the minimum number of years remaining under the lease required by mortgage companies has increased. In the past mortgage companies were content with twenty years plus the term of the loan - typically 50 year leases but those requirements are being increasingly undermined by the requirement for lengthy leases - many use a minimum term of 75 years as standard.

Lender Requirement
Birmingham Midshires Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Halifax Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start of the mortgage.
TSB Minimum of 70 years at mortgage commencement, with 30 years remaining at mortgage redemption.
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.

What makes us experts in St Neots lease extensions?

Lease extensions in St Neots can be a difficult process. We recommend you secure guidance from a conveyancer and valuer 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 in-depth market knowledge dealing with St Neots lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

St Neots Lease Extension Example Cases:

Caleb, St Neots, Cambridgeshire,

Caleb owned a 2 bedroom apartment in St Neots being sold with a lease of a few days over fifty eight years unexpired. Caleb on an informal basis approached his freeholder a well known local-based freehold company for a lease extension. The freeholder indicated a willingness to grant an extension taking the lease to 125 years subject to a rise in the rent to £200 annually. Ordinarily, ground rent would not be payable on a lease extension were Caleb to exercise his statutory right. Caleb procured expert advice and was able to make a more informed decision and deal with the matter and sell the flat.

St Neots case:

Dr Kian Díaz owned a garden apartment in St Neots in January 2005. The question was if we could approximate the premium would likely be for a 90 year extension to my lease. Comparable properties in St Neots with an extended lease were valued around £210,600. The mid-range ground rent payable was £45 billed per annum. The lease expiry date was on 1 November 2088. Considering the 62 years as a residual term we calculated the compensation to the landlord for the lease extension to be between £18,100 and £20,800 exclusive of expenses.

St Neots case:

Last Summer we were contacted by Mr and Mrs. S Thompson , who took over the lease of a one bedroom apartment in St Neots in May 1995. The dilemma was if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) premium could be to prolong the lease by an additional years. Comparable homes in St Neots with a long lease were valued around £265,000. The mid-range ground rent payable was £50 collected monthly. The lease termination date was on 4 August 2099. Given that there were 73 years left we estimated the compensation to the landlord for the lease extension to be between £9,500 and £11,000 exclusive of fees.