Why you should start your Belsize Park lease extension
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Main reasons to start your Belsize Park lease extension today:
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<h4> A <a href="http://www.lendermonitor.com/conveyancing/loc/belsize-park">Belsize Park</a> lease depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.
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<p> Unfortunately that a Belsize Park 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 deflation being disguised by increases in the Belsize Park property prices.Where your lease has approximately 90 years left, you need to start considering a lease extension. An important point to note is that it is desirable for lease extension to take place before the term of the existing lease falls lower than eighty years - otherwise a higher amount will be payable. Most flat owners in Belsize Park will be able to extend under the legislation; however a conveyancing solicitor should be able to confirm if you are eligibility. In some cases you may not qualify. There are also strict timetables and procedures to follow once the process has commenced and you will need to be guided by your lawyer for the duration of the formalities.
<h4>An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold</h4>
<p> It is generally considered that a residential leasehold with in excess of 100 years unexpired lease term is worth approximately the equivalent as a freehold. Where an further ninety years added to any lease with more than 30 years remaining, the premises will be worth the same as a freehold for many years in the future.
<h4>Lending institutions will not issue a mortgage on a short lease</h4> Banks and Building Societies have specific criteria when lending monies charged on leasehold homes. Some will simply not lend at all once an unexpired lease term falls below a specified unexpired lease term. Many Mortgage lenders will not regard property with a remaining term of less than seventy years suitable security. As well as this being important when selling, it is also relevant if you are wanting to remortgage your Belsize Park property.
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<td>Bank of Scotland</td>
<td> Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
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<td>Barclays plc</td>
<td> Leases with less than 70 years at the commencement of the mortgage should be declined (see exception below).<br /><br />Leases with greater than 70 years but fewer than 85 years remaining must be referred to issuing office.<br /><br />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:<br /><br />• 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<br />• The value of the property subject to the short remaining term is £500,000 or more AND<br />• 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;
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<td>Barnsley Building Society</td>
<td> 60 years from the date of the mortgage application subject to 35 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
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<td>National Westminster Bank</td>
<td> Mortgage term plus 30 years.<br /><br />For Shared Ownership, the remaining term of the lease must be at least 75 years plus the term of the mortgage at the outset of the mortgage.
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<td>Nationwide Building Society</td>
<td> - Our minimum unexpired lease term is 55 years, except where lending is over 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat, in which case our minimum unexpired term is 90 years. <br />- There must be at least 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term (regardless of the length of lease at the start).<br /><br />Where the unexpired lease term is different to that recorded on the mortgage offer, the following clarifies if we need to be informed:<br /><br />Second hand property:<br />- 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 <br />- if the unexpired lease term on the offer is less than 85 years – advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported<br />- For equity share applications - advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported on the offer<br />- Where lending is over 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat and the unexpired lease term on the offer is 90 years or more - only advise us if the actual lease term is less than 90 years. <br /><br />New build property:<br />- 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)<br />- For equity share applications - always advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported on the offer<br /><br />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.<br /><br />SECOND HAND PROPERTIES<br /><br />Unacceptable - advise Issuing Office (Will be declined):<br />- Unexpired lease term less than 55 years<br />- Unexpired lease term less than 90 years where we are lending more than 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat<br />- Less than 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term<br />- Ground Rent greater than 0.5% of the property value<br />- 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<br />- Ground Rent is compounded RPI<br />- Ground Rent review period is less than or equal to 5 years<br /><br />Refer to Issuing Office (Valuer will consider any impact on valuation figure and marketability):<br />- Unexpired lease term is 55 to 85 years<br />- Ground Rent greater than 0.1% and less than or equal to 0.5% of the property value<br />- Ground Rent escalation is linked to any indices greater than RPI<br />- Ground Rent escalation is linked to the value of the building*<br />- Ground Rent review period is greater than 5 and less than 10 years<br />- Event clauses exist for normal use e.g. changing the carpet, installing a TV aerial, etc<br />- Estate Rent Charges greater than £500 p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)<br />- Service Charges greater than 1% of property value p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)<br />- Anything that appears onerous, unusual or out of the ordinary<br /><br />Acceptable (no requirement to advise Issuing Office):<br />- Unexpired lease term greater than 85 years (Minimum 90 years where we are lending more than 85% of the purchase price/valuation on a second hand flat)<br />- Ground Rent less than or equal to 0.1% of the property value<br />- Ground Rent review period greater than or equal to 10 years<br />- Ground Rent escalation less than or equal to RPI<br /><br />NEW BUILD PROPERTIES (includes office conversions)<br /><br />Unacceptable - advise Issuing Office (Will be declined)<br />- Unexpired lease term less than 125 years on a new build flat or less than 250 years on a new build house (does not apply to Shared Ownership)<br />- Any lease which is subject to a Ground Rent (or Annual Rent) being charged which is more than on a peppercorn basis<br />- Any lease which is subject to a Ground Rent (or Annual Rent) being charged which is more than on a peppercorn basis<br /><br />Refer to Issuing Office (Valuer will consider any impact on valuation figure and marketability):<br />- Event clauses exist for normal use e.g. changing the carpet, installing a TV aerial etc<br />- Estate Rent Charges greater than £500 p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)<br />- Service Charges greater than 1% of property value p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)<br />- Anything else appears onerous, unusual or out of the ordinary<br /><br />Acceptable (no requirement to advise Issuing Office):<br />- 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<br />- A lease subject to a peppercorn Ground Rent (Annual Rent) charges<br /><br />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. <br /><br />* Where the Ground Rent escalation is linked to the value of the building, please provide the following:<br />- 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?<br />- The current valuation and Ground Rent for each unit<br />- What is the mechanism for future valuations of the block and how is the Ground Rent calculated/apportioned?<br />- What is the right of appeal? And is this a documented process within the lease?<br />- Who bears the cost of the valuation (and appeal) process?<br />- Confirmation the review period is not less than twenty years.<br /><br />Lease Extensions<br /><br />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 Issuing Office. <br /><br />Please ensure that all lender enquiries are submitted (with full documentation/requirements) at least 2 weeks prior to exchange to allow sufficient time for review and decisioning.
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Why use us for your lease extension in Belsize Park? </h4>
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Lease extensions in Belsize Park can be a difficult process. We recommend you procure professional help from a conveyancer and valuer well versed in the legislation and lease extension process.
<p>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 procuring Belsize Park lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.
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Belsize Park Lease Extension Case Summaries:
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<h5> Luke, Belsize Park, North London</h5>
<p> Two years ago Luke, started to get close to the 80-year mark with the lease on his leasehold apartment in Belsize Park. Having bought his property two decades ago, the lease term was of minimal concern. by good luck, he realised he would soon be paying an inflated amount for a lease extension. Luke arranged for a lease extension just in the nick of time last May. Luke and the freeholder via the managing agents ultimately agreed on an amount of £5,000 . If the lease had gone lower than 80 years, the amount would have increased by a minimum £1,100.
<h5>Belsize Park case:</h5>
<p> Mr C Evans owned a ground floor flat in Belsize Park in February 2000. The question was if we could approximate the compensation to the landlord would be for a 90 year lease extension. Comparative premises in Belsize Park with a long lease were worth £210,000. The mid-range ground rent payable was £50 invoiced quarterly. The lease came to a finish in 2106. Taking into account 80 years outstanding we calculated the premium to the freeholder to extend the lease to be between £8,600 and £9,800 exclusive of fees.
<div> <h5>Decision in Camden</h5>
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An example of a Lease Extension case for a Belsize Park flat is
First Floor Flat 20 Fitzjohns Avenue in July 2014. the Tribunal decided that the premiums to be paid for new leases in respect of the Raised Ground Floor Flat and the First Floor Flat were to be calculated as: Raised Ground Floor: £765,175.14 First Floor: £601,617.77
This case was in relation to 2 flats. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 16.83 and 16.43.
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