Stop! Your Lease Extension in Alston Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Alston 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 Alston 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 Alston lease extension


Why you should start your Alston lease extension today:

A Alston lease depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

Unfortunately that a Alston residential lease is a deteriorating asset. The lease value reduces in proportion to its lease length. The extent of this is taken for granted in the early years due to the reduction being disguised by increases in the Alston property prices.Once your lease nears 85ish years, you need to start thinking about a lease extension. If the number of years remaining slips below eighty years, you will end up paying 50% of the property's 'marriage value' on top of the usual cost of the lease extension to the landlord. The marriage fee is the amount of extra value that a lease extension will add the property The majority of leasehold owners in Alston will be able to extend under the legislation; however a lawyer will be able to confirm whether you are eligibility. In some cases you may not qualify. There are also strict timeframes and procedures to be adhered to once the process is initiated and you will need to be guided by your conveyancer throughout the process.

An extended lease is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold premises in Alston with in excess of one hundred years left 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 freehold unless savings on ground rent and service charges justify it.

Lenders may not grant a mortgage with a short lease

Lenders are really restricting their approach as regards to homes in Alston with short leases. For example you may find that their lending requirements are stricter and that they adjust interest rates depending on the unexpired lease term. Some may even refuse to lend completely, so if you wanted to sell, your remaining options would be to find a cash buyer, or try your luck at auction thus narrowing the amount of potential purchasers.

Lender Requirement
Bank of Scotland Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
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;
Barnsley Building Society 60 years from the date of the mortgage application subject to 35 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start of the mortgage.
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.

What makes us experts in Alston lease extensions?

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

Alston Lease Extension Example Cases:

Tyler, Alston, Cumbria

In recent months Tyler, started to get near to the eighty-year mark with the lease on his one bedroom flat in Alston. Having bought his flat two decades ago, the length of the lease was of minimal interest. Thankfully, it dawned on him that he needed to take action soon on a lease extension. Tyler was able to extend his lease just under the wire last July. Tyler and the freeholder eventually agreed on sum of £6,000 . If the lease had dipped below 80 years, the figure would have escalated by at least £850.

Alston case:

In 2014 we were contacted by Mr and Mrs. W Jackson who, having completed a recently refurbished apartment in Alston in October 1999. The dilemma was if we could approximate the premium would be for a ninety year lease extension. Comparable homes in Alston with 100 year plus lease were valued about £181,600. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £55 billed yearly. The lease elapsed on 26 June 2078. Considering the 52 years unexpired we calculated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £30,400 and £35,200 exclusive of professional charges.

Alston case:

Last Winter we were contacted by Mr and Mrs. Y Hill , who acquired a basement flat in Alston in June 1998. We are asked if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) price would be to prolong the lease by 90 years. Identical homes in Alston with a long lease were in the region of £285,000. The average amount of ground rent was £45 invoiced quarterly. The lease lapsed in 2098. Having 72 years remaining we calculated the compensation to the landlord for the lease extension to be between £12,400 and £14,200 exclusive of expenses.