Heaton Moor Lease Extension - Free Consultation

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Top reasons for Heaton Moor lease extension


Main reasons to start your Heaton Moor lease extension today:

Increase your lease and increase your Heaton Moor property value

The re-sale value of a leasehold property in Heaton Moor is impacted by how long the lease has remaining. If it is close to or fewer than eighty years you should expect difficulties on re-sale, so it is advisable to arrange for a lease extension ahead of buying. It is preferable to start the process of extending the lease is when a lease still has 82 years remaining so that all matters can be finalised well before the eighty year threshold. Current legislation enables Heaton Moor qualifying lessees to acquire a lease extension of ninety years in addition to the remaining lease term at a peppercorn rent (that is, rent free). The intention of the valuation is to determine the sum payable by the lessee to the freeholder for the purchase of the lease extension.

An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold

Leasehold premises in Heaton Moor with more than 100 years outstanding on the lease are often regarded as a ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your property. In such circumstances there is often little to be gained by purchasing the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and estate charges justify it.

Mortgage lenders may decide not to loan monies with a short lease

Lending institutions are less likely to grant a mortgage on a residential flat in Heaton Moor with a short lease. Many lenders simply refuse to lend on leases with under 75 years left.

Lender Requirement
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.
Godiva Mortgages 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.
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.
TSB Minimum of 70 years at mortgage commencement, with 30 years remaining at mortgage redemption.
The Mortgage Works Minimum unexpired lease term is 70 years with 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
Where the unexpired lease term is different to that recorded on the mortgage offer, the following clarifies if we need to be informed:

Second hand property:
- If the unexpired lease term on the offer is 85 years or more - only advise us if the actual lease term is less than 85 years
- if the unexpired lease term on the offer is less than 85 years – advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported
- For equity share applications - advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported on the offer

New build property:
- If the unexpired lease term stated on the offer is 125 years (flat) / 250 years (house) or more - only advise us if the actual lease term is less than 125 years (flat) / 250 years (house)
- For equity share applications - always advise us if the actual lease term is different than reported on the offer

Lease terms such as ground rent and event fees must be reasonable at all times during the term of the lease and adhere to our requirements below. If you’re unsure as to whether the terms of a lease are unreasonable or onerous, please refer the details to us in plain English for Valuer consideration. If the potentially onerous terms are in relation to the ground rent please include the current ground rent figure per annum, how often it will be reviewed and the price structure it will be reviewed against. See the guidance below.

SECOND HAND PROPERTIES

Unacceptable - advise Issuing Office (Will be declined):
- Unexpired lease term less than 70 years
- Less than 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term
- Ground Rent greater than 0.5% of the property value
- Ground Rent doubles less than every 20 years (e.g. doubles every 5, 10 or 15 years) - acceptable if doubles every 20 years or more
- Ground Rent is compounded RPI
- Ground Rent review period less than or equal to 5 years

Refer to Issuing Office (Valuer will consider any impact on valuation figure and marketability):
- Unexpired lease term is 70 to 85 years
- Ground Rent greater than 0.1% and less than or equal to 0.5% of the property value
- Ground Rent escalation is linked to any indices greater than RPI
- Ground Rent escalation is linked to the value of the building*
- Ground Rent review period is greater than 5 and less than 10 years
- Event clauses exist for normal use e.g. changing the carpet, installing a TV aerial etc
- Estate Rent Charges greater than £500 p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Service Charges greater than 1.0% of property value p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Anything that appears onerous, unusual or out of the ordinary

Acceptable (no requirement to advise Issuing Office):
- Unexpired lease term greater than 85 years
- Ground Rent less than or equal to 0.1% of the property value
- Ground Rent review period greater than or equal to 10 years
- Ground Rent escalation less than or equal to RPI

NEW BUILD PROPERTIES (includes office conversions)

Unacceptable - advise Issuing Office (will be declined):
- Unexpired lease term less than 125 years on a new build flat or less than 250 years on a new build house
- Any lease which is subject to a ground rent (or annual rent) being charged which is more than on a peppercorn basis
- Any lease which is subject to a ground rent (or annual rent) being reviewed and altered on any review basis or methodology

Refer to Issuing Office (Valuer will consider any impact on valuation figure and marketability):
- Event clauses exist for normal use e.g. changing the carpet, installing a TV aerial etc
- Estate Rent Charges greater than £500 p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Service Charges greater than 1.0% of property value p/a (please provide details of what the charges cover)
- Anything else appears onerous, unusual or out of the ordinary

Acceptable (no requirement to advise Issuing Office):
- Unexpired lease term greater than or equal to 125 years on a new build flat or greater than or equal to 250 years on a new build house
- A lease subject to a peppercorn ground rent (annual rent) charges

For the avoidance of doubt, any new build properties completed but not sold pre 30 June 2022 will only be acceptable if the lease conforms to the above guidance

* Where the Ground Rent escalation is linked to the value of the building, please provide the following:
- How is the value of the block/unit currently calculated and if the assessment relates to the block(s), how is the Ground Rent calculated/apportioned per property?
- The current valuation and Ground Rent for each unit
- What is the mechanism for future valuations of the block and how is the Ground Rent calculated/apportioned?
- What is the right of appeal? And is this a documented process within the lease?
- Who bears the cost of the valuation (and appeal) process?
- Confirmation the review period is not less than twenty years

LEASE EXTENSIONS

We require all lease extensions to be completed under the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 and to meet the above criteria as a minimum. Where you become aware that it does not meet these requirements, please refer to the Issuing Office

Please ensure that all lender enquiries are submitted (with full documentation/requirements) at least 2 weeks prior to exchange to allow sufficient time for review and decisioning.

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

Lease extensions in Heaton Moor can be a difficult process. We recommend you obtain guidance from a lawyer and valuer with experience in lease extensions.

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 Heaton Moor lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Heaton Moor Lease Extension Example Cases:

James, Heaton Moor, Greater Manchester,

James owned a 2 bedroom apartment in Heaton Moor being marketed with a lease of just over sixty years unexpired. James on an informal basis approached his freeholder a well known Bristol-based freehold company for a lease extension. The freeholder was prepared to give an extension on non-statutory terms taking the lease to 125 years subject to a new rent initially set at £200 per annum and increase every 25 years thereafter. Ordinarily, ground rent would not be payable on a lease extension were James to invoke his statutory right. James obtained expert advice and was able to make a more informed judgement and handle with the matter and ending up with a market value flat.

Heaton Moor case:

Last Spring we were phoned by Dr Teddy Lewis , who owned a ground floor apartment in Heaton Moor in February 2003. The question was if we could estimate the compensation to the landlord would be for a 90 year lease extension. Similar premises in Heaton Moor with an extended lease were valued about £174,200. The average ground rent payable was £55 billed yearly. The lease elapsed in 2076. Taking into account 51 years unexpired we estimated the premium to the freeholder to extend the lease to be within £31,400 and £36,200 not including fees.

Heaton Moor case:

Dr Hannah Lewis moved into a one bedroom flat in Heaton Moor in October 2000. The dilemma was if we could estimate the price would be to extend the lease by 90 years. Comparative homes in Heaton Moor with 100 year plus lease were in the region of £280,000. The average ground rent payable was £45 invoiced monthly. The lease ended in 2096. Considering the 71 years unexpired we calculated the compensation to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £12,400 and £14,200 not including costs.