Stop! Your Lease Extension in Carmel Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Carmel 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 Carmel 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.

Main reasons to commence your Carmel lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

Increase your lease and increase your Carmel property value

As the the remaining lease term of a Carmel domestic lease diminished so does its value and therefore the value of your property. Where the lease has, more than 99 years remaining then this decrease may be fractional however there will become a point in time when a lease has under than 80 years left as part of the premium you will incur is what is termed as a marriage value. This could increase markedly the cost. It is the main rational as to why you should extend the lease without delay. Many flat owners in Carmel will meet the qualifying criteria; however a conveyancing solicitor will be able to confirm whether you are eligible for a lease extension. In limited situations you may not qualify, the most frequent reason being that you have owned the property for under two years.

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

Leasehold properties in Carmel with over 100 years left on the lease are often regarded as a ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease is worth the same as a freehold interest in your home. In such circumstances there is often little to be gained by buying the freehold unless savings on ground rent and maintenance charges warrant it.

Lending institutions may decide not to grant a mortgage with a short lease

The trend since over the last decade has been for mortgage companies to tighten lending criteria across the board - this has extended to the types of security over which the mortgage is to be granted. This has resulted in the minimum number of years remaining under the lease required by lenders has increased. In the past mortgage companies would lend on a lease with 25 years plus the term of the loan - routinely 50 year leases but those requirements evolved by the requirement for longer and longer leases - many now have a minimum term of 75 years as standard.

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;
Chelsea 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.
National Westminster Bank Mortgage term plus 30 years.

For Shared Ownership, the remaining term of the lease must be at least 30 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

Why use us for your lease extension in Carmel?

The lawyers that we work with handle Carmel 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 conveyancer we work with provide it.

Carmel Lease Extension Example Cases:

Edward, Carmel, Flintshire

In 2014 Edward, started to get near to the 80-year mark with the lease on his two bedroom flat in Carmel. In buying his flat 19 years previously, the length of the lease was of minimal relevance. Fortunately, it dawned on him that he needed to take action soon on a lease extension. Edward was able to extend his lease at the eleventh hour last March. Edward and the freeholder via the management company subsequently agreed on the final figure of £5,000 . If the lease had slid lower than eighty years, the premium would have escalated by at least £925.

Carmel case:

Last year we were phoned by Mr and Mrs. E Bertrand , who acquired a ground floor flat in Carmel in October 2009. We are asked if we could estimate the price would likely be for a 90 year lease extension. Comparable homes in Carmel with an extended lease were in the region of £191,400. The mid-range ground rent payable was £55 billed quarterly. The lease expired on 16 September 2080. Given that there were 54 years unexpired we estimated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be between £34,200 and £39,600 plus expenses.

Carmel case:

In 2010 we were contacted by Mr and Mrs. B Murphy who, having owned a ground floor apartment in Carmel in October 1996. We are asked if we could approximate the compensation to the landlord would likely be for a ninety year extension to my lease. Comparative residencies in Carmel with 100 year plus lease were valued around £295,000. The average ground rent payable was £45 invoiced annually. The lease came to a finish in 2100. Having 74 years as a residual term we approximated the premium to the freeholder for the lease extension to be between £8,600 and £9,800 plus fees.