Stop! Your Lease Extension in Bellingham Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Bellingham 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 Bellingham 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 start your Bellingham lease extension


Main reasons to start your Bellingham lease extension today:

Increase your lease and increase your Bellingham property value

The value of Bellingham leasehold residential property falls as the lease term becomes shorter and this will have an impact on its saleability. The expense of extending the lease can escalate significantly once the remaining term is less than eighty years

Bellingham property with a lease extension has roughly the same value as a freehold

Leasehold properties in Bellingham with more than 100 years outstanding on the lease are often referred to as ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your home. In such situations there is often little to be gained by buying the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and service charges merit it.

Mortgage lenders may not grant a mortgage on a short lease

Banks and building societies vary in their lending criteria. Some set the bar at 75 years left on the lease; others may be happy with anything over seventy years. With less than sixty years, it may be impossible to get a mortgage at all.

Lender Requirement
Accord Mortgages 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.
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;
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start of the mortgage.
Virgin 85 years at the time of completion. If it's less, we require it to be extended on or before completion.
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 Bellingham?

Lease extensions in Bellingham can be a difficult process. We recommend you obtain guidance from a lawyer 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 Bellingham lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Bellingham Lease Extension Example Cases:

Georgina, Bellingham, South East London,

Following unsuccessful discussions with the landlord of her ground floor flat in Bellingham, Georgina initiated the lease extension process just as her lease was approaching the crucial eighty-year mark. The transaction was concluded in September 2012. The freeholder’s costs were kept to an absolute minimum.

Bellingham case:

Dr E Hill completed a one bedroom flat in Bellingham in April 2004. We are asked if we could approximate the premium could be to prolong the lease by a further 90 years. Comparative premises in Bellingham with 100 year plus lease were in the region of £275,000. The average ground rent payable was £55 collected yearly. The lease elapsed in 2102. Having 76 years unexpired we estimated the compensation to the freeholder to extend the lease to be between £9,500 and £11,000 exclusive of professional charges.

Decision in Lewisham

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement matter before the tribunal for a Bellingham flat is 75 Woolstone Road in February 2012. the decision of the Tribunal was that the appropriate amount to be paid to purchase the freehold was the sum of £17,711 . This case was in relation to 2 flats. The unexpired term was 68.28 and 158.