Stop! Your Lease Extension in Belton Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Belton 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 Belton 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.

Top reasons for Belton lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

A Belton leasehold property depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

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

Belton property with a lease extension is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold properties in Belton 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 property. In such circumstances there is often little to be gained by buying the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and maintenance charges warrant it.

Lenders may decide not to grant a mortgage on a short lease

Most banks have tightened lending criteria in recent years and borrowers are encountering difficulties in arranging funding or re-mortgage against flats with shorter lease terms, particularly below 75 years as they are deemed to be unacceptable security.

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;
Birmingham Midshires Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
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
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.

What makes us experts in Belton lease extensions?

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

Belton Lease Extension Case Summaries:

Freddie, Belton, Lincolnshire

In recent months Freddie, started to get close to the eighty-year mark with the lease on his first floor flat in Belton. In buying his flat two decades ago, the lease term was of no interest. Fortunately, he realised he would imminently be paying way over the odds for a lease extension. Freddie arranged for a lease extension just ahead of time in September. Freddie and the freeholder subsequently agreed on an amount of £5,000 . If he not met the deadline, the price would have increased by a minimum £1,075.

Belton case:

In 2010 we were phoned by Dr A Cooper who, having took over the lease of a ground floor apartment in Belton in September 2012. We are asked if we could approximate the compensation to the landlord would likely be for a 90 year extension to my lease. Comparable properties in Belton with an extended lease were valued about £218,400. The mid-range ground rent payable was £60 invoiced every twelve months. The lease termination date was in 2085. Considering the 59 years outstanding we calculated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £27,600 and £31,800 not including expenses.

Belton case:

Dr H White completed a studio apartment in Belton in March 1998. The question was if we could approximate the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease. Comparative premises in Belton with 100 year plus lease were valued about £205,000. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £50 invoiced monthly. The lease terminated on 1 February 2105. Given that there were 79 years outstanding we approximated the compensation to the landlord for the lease extension to be between £8,600 and £9,800 plus costs.