Stop! Your Lease Extension in Chingford Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Chingford 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 Chingford 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 Chingford lease extension


Why you should commence your Chingford lease extension today:

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

Chingford leases on domestic deteriorating in value. if your lease has in the region of ninety years left, you should start considering the need for a lease extension. It is important to recognise that it is that it is desirable for a lease extension to take place before the term of the current lease dips lower than 80 years - otherwise a higher premium will be due. Flat owners in Chingford will usually be legally entitled to a lease extension; however a solicitor will check if you qualify. In some situations you may not be entitled. There are also strict timetables and formalities to comply with once the process is initiated so it’s prudent to be guided by a conveyancer during the process.

An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold

Leasehold properties in Chingford with in excess of 100 years left on the lease are often referred to as ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your premises. In such circumstances there is often little to be gained by buying the freehold unless savings on ground rent and maintenance charges merit it.

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

The propensity since 2008 has been for lenders to tighten lending requirements generally - this has extended to the types of security over which the mortgage is to be charged. This has resulted in the minimum number of years remaining under the lease required by lenders has increased. In the past lenders would grant a mortgage on a lease with 25 years plus the term of the loan - routinely fifty year leases but those requirements evolved by the requirement for lengthy leases - many now have a minimum term of 75 years as standard.

Lender Requirement
Accord Mortgages 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.
Barnsley Building Society 60 years from the date of the mortgage application subject to 35 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
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.
Halifax Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
TSB Minimum of 70 years at mortgage commencement, with 30 years remaining at mortgage redemption.

What makes us experts in Chingford lease extensions?

The lawyers that we work with undertake Chingford 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.

Chingford Lease Extension Example Cases:

Harry, Chingford, North East London

14 months ago Harry, started to get close to the eighty-year mark with the lease on his garden flat in Chingford. Having bought his flat 18 years previously, the lease term was of no relevance. Thankfully, he noticed he would imminently be paying an escalated premium for Extending the lease. Harry extended the lease at the eleventh hour last March. Harry and the freeholder ultimately agreed on an amount of £5,000 . If he not met the deadline, the premium would have escalated by at least £875.

Chingford case:

Mr and Mrs. U Martínez completed a basement apartment in Chingford in September 2012. The question was if we could estimate the premium could be for a ninety year extension to my lease. Comparable flats in Chingford with an extended lease were worth £200,800. The mid-range ground rent payable was £65 invoiced monthly. The lease finished on 23 September 2086. Taking into account 60 years left we estimated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £20,900 and £24,200 exclusive of fees.

Decision in Redbridge

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement matter before the tribunal for a Chingford premises is 201 & 201a St. Barnabas Road in October 2013. The Tribunal decided that the price to be paid by the Applicants for the freehold interest is £20,071. This case related to 2 flats. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 69.26 years.