The only way is down when it comes to Covent Garden lease terms. Covent Garden flats that have a residual term shorter than eighty years will drop in market price at a rapid rate, and the cost of extending your lease will increase.
Leasehold premises in Covent Garden with in excess of 100 years remaining on the lease are sometimes regarded as a ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your home. In such circumstances there is often little to be gained by purchasing the freehold unless savings on ground rent and estate charges justify it.
| Lender | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Barnsley Building Society | 60 years from the date of the mortgage application subject to 35 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term. |
| Birmingham Midshires | Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage. |
| National Westminster Bank | Mortgage term plus 30 years. For Shared Ownership, the remaining term of the lease must also be not less than 75 years 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. |
| 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 |
Using our service will provide you enhanced control over the value of your Covent Garden leasehold, as your property will be more valuable and marketable in terms of lease length should you wish to sell. The conveyancers that we work with have a in-depth market knowledge handling many hundreds of lease extensions or freehold purchase transactions.
Off the back of unsuccessful discussions with the freeholder of her studio flat in Covent Garden, Robyn started the lease extension process as the 80 year deadline was fast nearing. The transaction was concluded in August 2005. The freeholder’s charges were kept to an absolute minimum.
In 2012 we were called by Ms Harriet Thompson who, having owned a basement flat in Covent Garden in March 2009. The dilemma was if we could estimate the premium could be for a 90 year extension to my lease. Comparative residencies in Covent Garden with 100 year plus lease were in the region of £280,000. The average amount of ground rent was £55 collected quarterly. The lease expired on 5 April 2103. Having 78 years as a residual term we calculated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be within £13,300 and £15,400 plus legals.
An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a Covent Garden flat is 20 Avonwick Road in July 2013. The Tribunal was dealing with an application under Section 26 of the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 for a determination of the freehold value of the property. It was concluded that the price to be paid was Fifteen Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventy (£15,970) divided as to £8,200 for Flat 20 and £7,770 for Flat 20A This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired term as at the valuation date was 73.26 years.