Stop! Your Lease Extension in Bideford Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Bideford 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 Bideford 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 Bideford lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

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

The market value of Bideford 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 increase materialy once the unexpired lease term is below than 80 years

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

It is generally considered that a residential leasehold with over 100 years unexpired lease term is worth roughly the equivalent as a freehold. Where an additional ninety years added to all but the shortest lease, the residence will be worth the same as a freehold for decades to come.

Mortgage lenders may not finance a property with a short lease

Most high street banks are tightening their criteria and many now expect flats to have a minimum of 60 if not 70 years remaining at the end of the mortgage. Considering a number of flats in Bideford were created in the fifties, sixties and seventies this means many now need to be extended if they if they are to be mortgageable.

Lender Requirement
Birmingham Midshires Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
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.
National Westminster Bank Mortgage term plus 30 years.

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.
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
Virgin 85 years at the time of completion. If it's less, we require it to be extended on or before completion.

Why use us for your lease extension in Bideford?

Regardless of whether you are a tenant or a landlord in Bideford,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 in-depth market knowledge and the close ties they enjoy with Bideford valuers.

Bideford Lease Extension Case Studies:

Lewis, Bideford, Devon,

Lewis owned a conversion apartment in Bideford on the market with a lease of just over 59 years remaining. Lewis informally spoke with his freeholder being a well known Bristol-based freehold company for a lease extension. The landlord was keen to give an extension on non-statutory terms taking the lease to 125 years subject to an increased rent to £125 yearly. Ordinarily, ground rent would not be due on a lease extension were Lewis to invoke his statutory right. Lewis obtained expert advice and was able to make a more informed judgement and handle with the matter and ending up with a market value flat.

Bideford case:

Mr and Mrs. F Ricardo took over the lease of a one bedroom flat in Bideford in April 2006. The question was if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) premium could be to extend the lease by 90 years. Identical flats in Bideford with an extended lease were in the region of £257,800. The average ground rent payable was £65 collected per annum. The lease concluded on 27 January 2091. Having 65 years as a residual term we calculated the compensation to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £18,100 and £20,800 not including legals.

Bideford case:

Mr Thomas Cook purchased a garden flat in Bideford in March 2012. We are asked if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) premium would likely be for a 90 year extension to my lease. Identical homes in Bideford with a long lease were worth £196,400. The mid-range ground rent payable was £55 invoiced monthly. The lease expiry date was on 7 May 2080. Considering the 54 years as a residual term we estimated the compensation to the freeholder to extend the lease to be within £35,200 and £40,600 not including professional charges.