Stop! Your Lease Extension in Gunnislake Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Gunnislake 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 Gunnislake 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 Gunnislake lease extension


Why you should start your Gunnislake lease extension today:

A Gunnislake leasehold property depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

Gunnislake leases on domestic deteriorating in value. if your lease has in the region of 90 years unexpired, you should start thinking about a lease extension. It is important to recognise that it is that it is desirable for a lease extension to be in place before the term of the current lease dips under eighty years - otherwise a higher premium will be due. Flat owners in Gunnislake will usually qualify for a lease extension; however a solicitor will check if you qualify. In certain cases you may not be entitled. There are prescribed timetables and steps to comply with once the process is triggered so it’s best to be guided by a conveyancing solicitor during the process.

An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold

Leasehold properties in Gunnislake with over 100 years remaining on the lease are often regarded as a ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease is worth the same as a freehold interest in your home. In such situations there is often little upside in purchasing the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and maintenance charges justify it.

Lenders may decide not to loan monies with a short lease

The propensity since the credit crunch has been for mortgage companies to tighten lending criteria across the board - this has extended to the property over which the home loan is to be charged. This has resulted in the unexpired lease term required by banks has increased. Historically lenders would grant a mortgage on a lease with 25 years plus the term of the loan - routinely fifty year leases but those requirements are being increasingly undermined by the requirement for lengthy leases - many use a minimum term of 75 years as a prerequisite.

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.
Birmingham Midshires Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
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.
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start 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 Gunnislake lease extension solicitors or enfranchisement solicitors

Irrespective of whether you are a tenant or a landlord in Gunnislake,the lease extension lawyers that we work with will always be willing to discuss any residential leasehold matters and offer you the benefit of their in-depth market knowledge and the close ties they enjoy with Gunnislake valuers.

Gunnislake Lease Extension Case Studies:

Seth, Gunnislake, Cornwall,

Seth was the the leasehold owner of a studio apartment in Gunnislake being sold with a lease of a little over sixty years left. Seth on an informal basis spoke with his landlord being a well known Bristol-based freehold company and enquired on a premium to extend the lease. The landlord indicated a willingness to grant an extension taking the lease to 125 years subject to a rise in the rent to £125 annually. No ground rent would be due on a lease extension were Seth to invoke his statutory right. Seth procured expert legal guidance and secured an acceptable resolution informally and sell the property.

Gunnislake case:

In 2011 we were called by Mr G Morgan who, having acquired a one bedroom apartment in Gunnislake in January 2010. We are asked if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) compensation to the landlord would likely be to prolong the lease by 90 years. Comparable premises in Gunnislake with 100 year plus lease were in the region of £275,000. The mid-range ground rent payable was £55 invoiced annually. The lease expired in 2102. Having 76 years as a residual term we estimated the compensation to the landlord to extend the lease to be within £9,500 and £11,000 plus costs.

Gunnislake case:

Dr Felix Jones moved into a one bedroom flat in Gunnislake in May 1997. The question was if we could approximate the compensation to the landlord could be for a ninety year lease extension. Comparable residencies in Gunnislake with 100 year plus lease were valued around £176,200. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £65 invoiced per annum. The lease finished on 26 August 2082. Having 56 years outstanding we calculated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £29,500 and £34,000 exclusive of costs.