Stop! Your Lease Extension in Hastings Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Hastings 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 Hastings 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.

Main reasons to start your Hastings lease extension


Why you should start your Hastings lease extension today:

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

The basic rule is, all other factors being equal, the shorter the lease the more expensive the premium. Qualifying leaseholders in Hastings have the right to extend the lease for an additional 90 years in accordance with statute. Please give careful consideration before delaying your Hastings lease extension. Postponing the costs now simply increases the premium you will ultimately have to pay to extend the lease.

An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold

Leasehold properties in Hastings with in excess of one hundred years outstanding on the lease are sometimes referred to as ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your property. In such situations there is often little to be gained by purchasing the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and maintenance charges justify it.

Lenders may decide not to finance a property with a short lease

Banks and Building Societies are less likely to issue a mortgage on a residential property in Hastings with a short lease. Many lenders simply refuse to lend on leases with less than 75 years remaining.

Lender Requirement
Bank of Scotland Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Birmingham Midshires Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Royal Bank of Scotland Mortgage term plus 30 years.
Virgin 85 years at the time of completion. If it's less, we require it to be extended on or before completion.
Yorkshire Building Society 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.

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

The conveyancers that we work with undertake Hastings 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 conveyancing solicitor we work with provide it.

Hastings Lease Extension Case Studies:

Ali, Hastings, East Sussex

Half a year ago Ali, came critically near to the 80-year mark with the lease on his garden flat in Hastings. Having bought his home 18 years ago, the length of the lease was of no concern. Thankfully, he recognised he needed to take action soon on a lease extension. Ali arranged for a lease extension at the eleventh hour in March. Ali and the freeholder eventually settled on the final figure of £5,500 . If the lease had descended lower than eighty years, the figure would have become more costly by at least £1,075.

Hastings case:

In 2010 we were called by Mr N Rose who, having moved into a basement apartment in Hastings in March 1995. We are asked if we could estimate the premium would likely be to extend the lease by a further 90 years. Identical properties in Hastings with 100 year plus lease were valued around £270,000. The average amount of ground rent was £55 billed yearly. The lease end date was on 23 July 2100. Taking into account 74 years unexpired we approximated the compensation to the freeholder to extend the lease to be between £9,500 and £11,000 exclusive of fees.

Hastings case:

Mr C André was assigned a lease of a studio apartment in Hastings in November 2008. We are asked if we could estimate the premium would likely be for a 90 year extension to my lease. Comparable homes in Hastings with a long lease were worth £166,400. The average ground rent payable was £60 collected monthly. The lease concluded on 18 July 2080. Having 54 years as a residual term we approximated the compensation to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £32,300 and £37,400 exclusive of fees.