Stop! Your Lease Extension in Dereham Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Dereham 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 Dereham 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 Dereham lease extension


Main reasons to commence your Dereham lease extension today:

Increase your lease and increase your Dereham property value

Unfortunately that a Dereham residential lease is a deteriorating asset. The lease value drops in proportion to its lease length. The extent of this is taken for granted in the first few years due to the deflation being disguised by increases in the Dereham property prices.Once your lease nears 85ish years, you need to 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 dips below eighty years - otherwise a higher premium will be payable. The majority of leasehold owners in Dereham will be able to extend under the legislation; however a conveyancing solicitor will be able to confirm if you qualify for an extension. In some situations you may not qualify. There are also strict timeframes and procedures to follow once the process has commenced and you will need to be guided by your conveyancer from beginning to end of the formalities.

An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold

It is generally accepted that a residential leasehold with more than 100 years remaining is worth approximately the same as a freehold. Where an further 90 years added to all but the shortest lease, the property will be worth the same as a freehold for decades to come.

Lenders will not issue a mortgage on a short lease

The trend since 2008 has been for lenders to tighten lending requirements generally - this has extended to the types of security over which the home loan is to be granted. This has meant the minimum number of years remaining under the lease required by banks has increased. In the past mortgage companies were content with twenty years plus the term of the loan - typically fifty year leases but those requirements have been chipped away by the requirement for lengthy 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.
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.
Lloyds TSB Scotland Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.

Why use us for your lease extension in Dereham?

The lawyers that we work with procure Dereham 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.

Dereham Lease Extension Example Cases:

Ollie, Dereham, Norfolk

In 2014 Ollie, started to get near to the 80-year mark with the lease on his leasehold apartment in Dereham. In buying his home twenty years previously, the unexpired term was of no relevance. Thankfully, he recognised he would imminently be paying way over the odds for Extending the lease. Ollie arranged for a lease extension just under the wire last August. Ollie and the freeholder ultimately agreed on an amount of £5,500 . If the lease had descended to less than 80 years, the amount would have gone up by at least £1,075.

Dereham case:

Mr and Mrs. W Campbell took over the lease of a studio apartment in Dereham in November 1996. We are asked if we could estimate the compensation to the landlord would be for a 90 year lease extension. Identical properties in Dereham with 100 year plus lease were worth £168,800. The mid-range ground rent payable was £60 collected quarterly. The lease expired on 8 May 2081. Considering the 55 years outstanding we calculated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £31,400 and £36,200 not including costs.

Dereham case:

Last year we were approach by Dr Hollie Nelson , who acquired a studio apartment in Dereham in June 1996. The question was if we could shed any light on how much (roughly) compensation to the landlord would likely be for a ninety year lease extension. Comparative flats in Dereham with 100 year plus lease were valued about £235,200. The mid-range ground rent payable was £45 collected monthly. The lease expired in 2092. Given that there were 66 years unexpired we estimated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be between £12,400 and £14,200 exclusive of professional charges.