Stop! Your Lease Extension in Hebburn Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Hebburn 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 Hebburn 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 commence your Hebburn lease extension


Why you should start your Hebburn lease extension today:

Increase your lease and increase your Hebburn property value

Hebburn leases on domestic properties are gradually losing value. Where your lease has about 90 years left, you should start considering the need for a lease extension. 80 years is a significant number: when the unexpired term of a lease drops below this level then you begin paying an additional element called marriage value. Leasehold owners in Hebburn will mostly qualify for a lease extension; however It would be wise to check with a lawyer to confirm if you qualify. In certain circumstances you may not be entitled. There are also strict deadlines and procedures to comply with once the process has commenced so it’s wise to be guided by a conveyancing solicitor during the process.

An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold

It is conventional wisdom that a property with in excess of 100 years unexpired lease term is worth approximately the same as a freehold. Where an further 90 years added to all but the shortest lease, the residence will be equivalent in value to a freehold for many years ahead.

Banks and Building Societies will not finance a property with a short lease

Lenders do not like short residential leases. You most probably encounter problems where you want to sell your flat in Hebburn if the remaining lease term is under the criteria set by the majority of lenders. Different lenders have varying requirements but on the whole theyrequire 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.
Chelsea 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.
National Westminster Bank Mortgage term plus 30 years.

For Shared Ownership, the remaining term of the lease must be at least 30 years plus the term of the mortgage at the outset of the mortgage.
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.

What makes us experts in Hebburn lease extensions?

Lease extensions in Hebburn can be a difficult process. We recommend you get professional help 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 procuring Hebburn lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Hebburn Lease Extension Case Studies:

Kyle, Hebburn, Tyne And Wear,

Kyle was the the leasehold owner of a 2 bedroom apartment in Hebburn being marketed with a lease of just over 59 years outstanding. Kyle on an informal basis spoke with his freeholder being a well known London-based freehold company and enquired on a premium to extend the lease. The landlord was prepared to grant an extension on non-statutory terms taking the lease to 125 years on the basis of a new rent initially set at £200 per annum and increase every 25 years thereafter. No ground rent would be payable on a lease extension were Kyle to invoke his statutory right. Kyle obtained expert legal guidance and secured satisfactory resolution without resorting to tribunal and ending up with a market value flat.

Hebburn case:

Last Summer we were approach by Mr and Mrs. E Edwards , who bought a purpose-built flat in Hebburn in March 2011. The question was if we could shed any light on how much (roughly) compensation to the landlord could be to prolong the lease by 90 years. Similar premises in Hebburn with a long lease were worth £295,000. The mid-range ground rent payable was £45 collected annually. The lease ran out in 2100. Considering the 74 years as a residual term we calculated the premium to the freeholder to extend the lease to be between £9,500 and £11,000 not including legals.

Hebburn case:

In 2014 we were e-mailed by Mr and Mrs. J Díaz who, having purchased a ground floor apartment in Hebburn in January 1998. The question was if we could approximate the price would be to extend the lease by 90 years. Comparative homes in Hebburn with 100 year plus lease were worth £248,000. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £65 billed quarterly. The lease terminated in 2089. Given that there were 63 years remaining we approximated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £20,900 and £24,200 not including expenses.