Stop! Your Lease Extension in Dockland Settlement Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Dockland Settlement 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 Dockland Settlement 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 Dockland Settlement lease extension


Main reasons to commence your Dockland Settlement lease extension today:

A Dockland Settlement lease depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

With a long leasehold property in Dockland Settlement, you are actually buying a right to live in a property for a set period of time. These days flat leases typically tend to be for 99 years or 125. Even though this may appear like a lengthy period of time, you may consider extending the lease sooner rather than later. The general rule is that the shorter the lease is the cost of extending the lease gets disproportionately greater especially once there are less than 80 years left. Residents in Dockland Settlement with a lease drawing near to 81 years unexpired should seriously think of extending it without delay. Once a lease has under 80 years remaining, under the relevant statute the landlord is entitled to calculate and demand a greater premium, based on a technical multiplication, known as “marriage value” which is payable.

An extended lease is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold premises in Dockland Settlement with more than 100 years unexpired on the lease are often referred to as ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease is worth the same as a freehold interest in your premises. In such circumstances there is often little upside in purchasing the freehold unless savings on ground rent and service charges merit it.

Lenders may not grant a mortgage on a short lease

Banks and building societies are inclined not lend on short residential leases. You are likely to experience problems if you want to sell your flat in Dockland Settlement if the unexpired term of your lease is under the criteria set by most lenders. Different mortgage companies have varying criteria but in the main they are looking for a minimum remaining lease term of 65 years.

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.
Birmingham Midshires Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Halifax Minimum 70 years from the date 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

Get in touch with one of our Dockland Settlement lease extension solicitors or enfranchisement solicitors

Lease extensions in Dockland Settlement can be a difficult process. We recommend you get guidance from a conveyancer and valuer with experience in this area.

We provide you with an expert from a selection of lease extension solicitors, which ensures a targeted and efficient service as you have a dedicated port of call with an individual lawyer. Our lease extension solicitors have in-depth market knowledge dealing with Dockland Settlement lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Dockland Settlement Lease Extension Case Summaries:

Finn, Dockland Settlement, London

Twenty four months ago Finn, started to get near to the eighty-year threshold with the lease on his garden apartment in Dockland Settlement. Having bought his property twenty years previously, the length of the lease was of little significance. As luck would have it, it dawned on him that he would imminently be paying an escalated premium for Extending the lease. Finn arranged for a lease extension just under the wire in June. Finn and the freeholder in the end agreed on an amount of £5,500 . If the lease had gone below eighty years, the figure would have gone up by at least £1,075.

Dockland Settlement case:

Mr and Mrs. M Michel acquired a basement apartment in Dockland Settlement in November 2006. The question was if we could estimate the premium could be for a 90 year lease extension. Similar premises in Dockland Settlement with a long lease were worth £255,000. The average ground rent payable was £50 collected yearly. The lease expiry date was on 15 January 2096. Taking into account 70 years outstanding we estimated the premium to the freeholder to extend the lease to be between £10,500 and £12,000 not including costs.

Decision in Lewisham

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Dockland Settlement residence is 73 Walerand Road in August 2012. the result of the findings of the Tribunal led to a premium to be paid for the extended lease in respect of Flat 73 in the sum of £10,040. The premium applicable in respect of Flat 85 was £5,710. This case affected 2 flats. The unexpired term as at the valuation date was 72 years.