Stop! Your Lease Extension in Chalk Farm Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Chalk Farm 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 Chalk Farm 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 Chalk Farm lease extension


Main reasons to commence your Chalk Farm lease extension today:

Increase your lease and increase your Chalk Farm property value

The market value of a leasehold property in Chalk Farm is impacted by how many years the lease has left to run. If it is near to or fewer than 80 years you should foresee difficulties on re-sale, so it is advisable to arrange for the lease to be extended ahead of purchasing. It is preferable to commence the lease extension process when the lease still has 82 years to run so that formalities can be addressed ahead of the 80 year mark. Current legislation enables Chalk Farm qualifying lessees to an additional term of 90 years on top of the existing term, at a nominal rent (no ground rent). The reason of the valuation is to determine the amount payable by the lessee to the freeholder for the acquisition of the lease extension.

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

It is generally accepted that a residential leasehold with in excess of 100 years unexpired lease term is worth roughly the same as a freehold. Where an additional 90 years added to all but the shortest lease, the premises will be worth the same as a freehold for many years ahead.

Lending institutions may not issue a mortgage with a short lease

Many mortgage lenders will not lend on a lease with less than seventy years unexpired - although this varies from lender to lender. A buyer will likely encounter difficulties in obtaining a mortgage and this could result in your Chalk Farm property being difficult to sell or refinance.

Lender Requirement
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.
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.
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.
TSB Minimum of 70 years at mortgage commencement, with 30 years remaining at mortgage redemption.

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

The conveyancers that we work with procure Chalk Farm 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 lawyer we work with provide it.

Chalk Farm Lease Extension Case Studies:

Evan, Chalk Farm, North London

14 months ago Evan, came precariously close to the 80-year mark with the lease on his studio apartment in Chalk Farm. Having purchased his property two decades ago, the length of the lease was of minimal interest. Luckily, it dawned on him that he needed to take action soon on Extending the lease. Evan was able to extend his lease just under the wire last March. Evan and the landlord who owned the flat above eventually agreed on the final figure of £6,000 . If the lease had slid below eighty years, the premium would have escalated by a minimum £1,000.

Chalk Farm case:

In 2010 we were approached by Mr and Mrs. O Clark who, having acquired a ground floor apartment in Chalk Farm in February 1998. We are asked if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) compensation to the landlord could be for a ninety year extension to my lease. Identical residencies in Chalk Farm with 100 year plus lease were valued about £260,200. The average amount of ground rent was £65 collected per annum. The lease came to a finish on 1 September 2092. Given that there were 66 years as a residual term we approximated the premium to the freeholder for the lease extension to be between £16,200 and £18,600 exclusive of legals.

Decision in Camden

An example of a Lease Extension case for a Chalk Farm residence is Flat 2 27 Mackeson Road in December 2012. The Tribunal assessed the value of the lease extension premium at £35,435 and rounded the figure to £35,500 This case related to 1 flat. The unexpired lease term was 64.77 years.