Unfortunately that a Brondesbury residential lease is a wasting 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 loss of value being disguised by increases in the Brondesbury property prices.Once your lease gets to 85ish years, you should start thinking about 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 below eighty years - otherwise a higher amount will be due. The majority of flat owners in Brondesbury will be able to extend under the legislation; however a lawyer should be able to confirm whether you are eligibility. In some situations you may not qualify. There are also strict timetables and procedures to be adhered to once the process is instigated and you will need to be guided by your conveyancer for the duration of the process.
Leasehold premises in Brondesbury with in excess of 100 years outstanding on the lease are sometimes referred to as ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease is worth the same as a freehold interest in your home. In such situations there is often little upside in purchasing the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and service charges warrant it.
| Lender | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Barclays plc | Leases with less than 70 years at the commencement of the mortgage should be declined (see exception below). Leases with greater than 70 years but fewer than 85 years remaining must be referred to issuing office. 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| Royal Bank of Scotland | Mortgage term plus 30 years. |
The conveyancers that we work with procure Brondesbury lease extensions and help protect your position. A lease extension can be arranged to be completed to coincide with a change of ownership so the costs of the lease extension are paid for using part of the sale proceeds. You really do need expert legal advice in this difficult and technical area of law. The conveyancing solicitor we work with provide it.
Off the back of protracted negotiations with the landlord of her first floor apartment in Brondesbury, Emily initiated the lease extension process as the 80 year deadline was rapidly nearing. The lease extension was concluded in August 2007. The landlord’s fees were kept to an absolute minimum.
In 2012 we were approached by Mr and Mrs. N Hall who, having bought a one bedroom flat in Brondesbury in November 2008. The question was if we could estimate the premium would likely be for a ninety year lease extension. Identical flats in Brondesbury with a long lease were worth £250,400. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £65 collected annually. The lease end date was in 2089. Having 64 years unexpired we approximated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be within £19,000 and £22,000 not including costs.
An example of a Lease Extension case for a Brondesbury residence is 50a Cavendish Road in April 2014. The Tribunal determines that the premium payable by the Applicant in respect of the extension of the lease for the flat was £82,319. This case affected 1 flat. The unexpired term was 49.26 years.