Stop! Your Lease Extension in Blackheath Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Blackheath 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 Blackheath 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 Blackheath lease extension


Why you should start your Blackheath lease extension today:

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

The market value of Blackheath 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 materialy once the unexpired lease term is less than eighty years

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

Leasehold residencies in Blackheath with over one hundred years unexpired on the lease are sometimes referred to as ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your premises. In such situations there is often little to be gained by purchasing the freehold unless savings on ground rent and maintenance charges warrant it.

Lenders will not grant a mortgage with a short lease

Banks and building societies are inclined not lend on short residential leases. You are likely to experience problems if you want to sell your flat in Blackheath if the unexpired term of your lease is below the criteria set by the majority of mortgage companies. Different lenders have different criteria but in the main they are looking for a minimum remaining lease term of 65 years.

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.
Godiva Mortgages 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.

Get in touch with one of our Blackheath lease extension solicitors or enfranchisement solicitors

Lease extensions in Blackheath can be a difficult process. We recommend you procure 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 a wealth of experience procuring Blackheath lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Blackheath Lease Extension Example Cases:

Ben, Blackheath, South East London,

Ben was the the leasehold proprietor of a studio flat in Blackheath being marketed with a lease of fraction over 61 years remaining. Ben informally spoke with his freeholder being a well known Manchester-based freehold company for a lease extension. The landlord indicated a willingness to extend the lease to 125 years subject to a new rent to start with set at £200 per annum and doubled every 25 years thereafter. No ground rent would be payable on a lease extension were Ben to invoke his statutory right. Ben obtained expert legal guidance and was able to make an informed decision and deal with the matter and sell the property.

Blackheath case:

Dr W Khan took over the lease of a purpose-built apartment in Blackheath in May 1997. We are asked if we could shed any light on how much (roughly) price could be for a 90 year lease extension. Comparable residencies in Blackheath with 100 year plus lease were valued around £280,000. The mid-range ground rent payable was £55 invoiced yearly. The lease ran out on 8 July 2105. Considering the 79 years unexpired we approximated the compensation to the freeholder for the lease extension to be within £13,300 and £15,400 not including professional charges.

Decision in Lewisham

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Blackheath residence is 73 Walerand Road in August 2012. the result of the findings of the Tribunal led to a premium to be paid for the extended lease in respect of Flat 73 in the sum of £10,040. The premium applicable in respect of Flat 85 was £5,710. This case was in relation to 2 flats. The remaining number of years on the lease was 72 years.