Stop! Your Lease Extension in Belmont Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Belmont 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 Belmont 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 Belmont lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

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

Belmont residential property owned on a long lease is a wasting asset because a leaseholder merely owns the property for a period of years.

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

Leasehold residencies in Belmont with more than one hundred years remaining on the lease are sometimes regarded as a ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your home. In such situations there is often little upside in buying the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and estate charges merit it.

Lending institutions may decide not to grant a mortgage with a short lease

Banks and building societies vary in their lending criteria. Some draw the line at 75 years left on the lease; others may be prepared to lend with anything with more than 70 years. With less than 60 years, it may be impossible to get a mortgage in the first place.

Lender Requirement
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.
Halifax Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start of the mortgage.
National Westminster Bank Mortgage term plus 30 years.

For Shared Ownership, the remaining term of the lease must be at least 30 years plus the term of the mortgage at the outset 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 Belmont lease extensions?

Regardless of whether you are a tenant or a landlord in Belmont,the lease extension solicitors that we work with will always be prepared to discuss any residential leasehold matters and offer you the benefit of their experience and the close ties they enjoy with Belmont valuers.

Belmont Lease Extension Case Summaries:

Harrison, Belmont, South London,

Harrison owned a high value flat in Belmont on the market with a lease of a few days over sixty years remaining. Harrison informally contacted his freeholder a well known local-based freehold company and enquired on a premium to extend the lease. The landlord was keen to agree an extension on non-statutory terms taking the lease to 125 years subject to a rise in the rent to £200 annually. Ordinarily, ground rent would not be due on a lease extension were Harrison to exercise his statutory right. Harrison procured expert advice and secured satisfactory resolution informally and sell the property.

Belmont case:

In 2012 we were phoned by Mr Y Green who, having purchased a first floor flat in Belmont in November 2010. The question was if we could approximate the price would likely be to extend the lease by 90 years. Identical premises in Belmont with 100 year plus lease were valued about £183,600. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £65 billed monthly. The lease elapsed in 2083. Given that there were 57 years as a residual term we calculated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £28,500 and £33,000 exclusive of professional charges.

Decision in Sutton

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement matter before the tribunal for a Belmont property is Buchanan Court 39 Vernon Road in April 2010. the Tribunal assessed that the premium payable for the freehold of the block should be £44,000. This case affected 2 flats. The remaining number of years on the lease was 66.67 years.