Westcliff On Sea Lease Extension - Free Consultation

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Main reasons to commence your Westcliff On Sea lease extension


Why you should start your Westcliff On Sea lease extension today:

A Westcliff On Sea lease depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

There is no doubt about it a leasehold property in Westcliff On Sea is a wasting asset as a result of the diminishing lease term. Where the residual term has, in excess of 100 years remaining then this decrease may be negligible that being said there will become a stage when a lease has under than eighty years unexpired as part of the premium you will incur is what is known as a marriage value. This could be significant. It is the main logic behind why you should consider extending sooner rather than later. Most flat owners in Westcliff On Sea will qualify for this right; nevertheless a conveyancing solicitor can confirm whether you are eligible to extend your lease. In limited situations you may not qualify, the most frequent reason being that you have owned the property for less than two years.

Westcliff On Sea property with a lease extension has roughly the same value as a freehold

It is conventional wisdom that a property with over 100 years unexpired lease term is worth approximately the equivalent as a freehold. Where an additional 90 years added to all but the shortest lease, the residence will be worth the same as a freehold for decades to come.

Mortgage lenders may decide not to lend on a short lease

Whether or not the lease is be regarded as a short lease varies by mortgage company, yet lending institutions start to get concerned at around 75 years. This may cause difficulties once you come to market or refinance your flat as it will be effectively unmortgageable. You might have no imminent plan to sell but when you do your buyer will have to hold off for two years before they can exercise the right to a an extension to the lease.

Lender Requirement
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.
Santander You must report the unexpired lease term to us and await our instructions if:
1. the unexpired term assumed by our valuer is between 55 and 82 years, but the actual unexpired term differs by more than one year (whether longer or shorter); or
2. the unexpired term assumed by our valuer is more than 82 years but the actual unexpired term is less than 82 years; or
3. no valuation report is provided
However, we will not accept a lease where on expiry of the mortgage:
(i) less than 50 years remain and all or part of the loan is repaid on an interest-only basis: or
(ii) less than 30 years remain and the loan is repaid on a capital and interest basis

We will accept a lease that has been extended under the provisions of the Leasehold Reform Act 1993 provided statutory compensation would be available to the leaseholder.
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
TSB Minimum of 70 years at mortgage commencement, with 30 years remaining at mortgage redemption.
The Mortgage Works Minimum unexpired lease term is 70 years with 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
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

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 70 years
- 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 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 70 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 1.0% 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
- 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
- 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 reviewed and altered on any review basis or methodology

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 1.0% 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 the Issuing Office

Get in touch with one of our Westcliff On Sea lease extension solicitors or enfranchisement solicitors

Engaging our service will provide you enhanced control over the value of your Westcliff On Sea leasehold, as your property will be more valuable and marketable in terms of lease length should you want to sell. The conveyancing solicitors that we work with are well versed in the legislation handling many hundreds of lease extensions or freehold purchase transactions.

Westcliff On Sea Lease Extension Case Studies:

Charlie, Westcliff On Sea, Essex

During the course of the last few months Charlie, started to get near to the eighty-year mark with the lease on his purpose- built flat in Westcliff On Sea. Having bought his property 18 years ago, the length of the lease was of minimal concern. Fortunately, he became aware that he would imminently be paying an inflated amount for a lease extension. Charlie extended the lease just under the wire last March. Charlie and the freeholder via the managing agents in the end settled on sum of £5,000 . If he failed to meet the deadline, the sum would have escalated by a minimum £1,000.

Westcliff On Sea case:

Mr and Mrs. V Laurent acquired a basement flat in Westcliff On Sea in June 1999. We are asked if we could estimate the price would likely be for a 90 year extension to my lease. Identical homes in Westcliff On Sea with a long lease were valued about £290,000. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £60 billed monthly. The lease came to a finish in 2104. Having 80 years outstanding we estimated the compensation to the freeholder for the lease extension to be between £13,300 and £15,400 plus legals.

Westcliff On Sea case:

Dr N Peterson owned a first floor flat in Westcliff On Sea in November 2008. We are asked if we could approximate the price would be to prolong the lease by a further 90 years. Identical homes in Westcliff On Sea with a long lease were valued about £200,800. The average amount of ground rent was £65 billed per annum. The lease lapsed in 2084. Having 60 years outstanding we calculated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be between £20,900 and £24,200 not including fees.