Stop! Your Lease Extension in Heywood Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Heywood 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 Heywood 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 Heywood lease extension


Main reasons to commence your Heywood lease extension today:

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

Heywood leases on domestic deteriorating in value. Where your lease has about 90 years remaining, you should start thinking about a lease extension. An important point to note is that it is desirable for a lease extension to take place before the term of the existing lease drops under eighty years - otherwise a higher premium will be due. Flat owners in Heywood will mostly be legally entitled to a lease extension; however it’s a good idea to check with a lawyer to check if you qualify. In some situations you may not be entitled. There are also strict timetables and formalities to follow once the process has commenced so it’s sensible to be guided by a conveyancing solicitor during the process.

An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold

Leasehold premises in Heywood 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 upside in purchasing the freehold unless savings on ground rent and service charges justify it.

Banks and Building Societies may decide not to loan monies with a short lease

Banks and building societies are really restricting their approach as regards to properties in Heywood with short leases. For instance you may find that their lending criteria are stricter and that they alter interest rates depending on the unexpired lease term. Some may even refrain from lending completely, so where you needed to sell, your remaining options would be to find a cash buyer, or try your luck at auction thus limiting your market.

Lender Requirement
Barclays plc Leases with less than 70 years at the commencement of the mortgage are not acceptable.

Leases with fewer than 70 years should only be referred to the issuing office where the following scenario applies, as discretion may be applied subject to bank approval:

• Property is located in any of the following prestigious developments: Cadogan, Crown, Grosvenor, Howard de Walden, Portman or Wellcome Trust Estates in Central London AND
• The value of the property subject to the short remaining term is £500,000 or more AND
• The loan to value does not exceed 90% for purchases, 90% like for like re-mortgages, 80% for re-mortgages with any element of capital raising and 80% for existing Barclays mortgage borrowers applying for additional borrowing;
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.
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start of the mortgage.
National Westminster Bank Mortgage term plus 30 years.

For Shared Ownership, the remaining term of the lease must be at least 75 years plus the term of the mortgage at the outset 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

What makes us experts in Heywood lease extensions?

Retaining our service will provide you increased control over the value of your Heywood leasehold, as your property will be more valuable and saleable in respect of lease length should you want to sell. The conveyancers that we work with are well versed in the legislation handling many hundreds of lease extensions or freehold purchase transactions.

Heywood Lease Extension Case Summaries:

Andrew, Heywood, Greater Manchester,

Andrew owned a high value flat in Heywood on the market with a lease of a little over 61 years outstanding. Andrew on an informal basis spoke with his landlord a well known London-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 on the basis of an increased rent to £200 annually. No ground rent would be due on a lease extension were Andrew to invoke his statutory right. Andrew procured expert legal guidance and secured an acceptable deal without resorting to tribunal and ending up with a market value flat.

Heywood case:

In 2014 we were approached by Dr G López who, having took over the lease of a studio apartment in Heywood in February 2004. The question was if we could approximate the premium could be to extend the lease by a further 90 years. Comparable premises in Heywood with a long lease were valued around £208,200. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £65 collected every twelve months. The lease came to a finish in 2087. Given that there were 61 years unexpired we approximated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be between £19,000 and £22,000 plus professional charges.

Heywood case:

Last Autumn we were e-mailed by Mr and Mrs. I Mercier , who took over the lease of a recently refurbished apartment in Heywood in January 2005. The question was if we could estimate the premium would be for a ninety year extension to my lease. Identical premises in Heywood with an extended lease were worth £260,000. The average amount of ground rent was £50 billed annually. The lease ended in 2098. Taking into account 72 years remaining we approximated the compensation to the freeholder to extend the lease to be between £9,500 and £11,000 plus professional charges.