Stop! Your Lease Extension in Isle of Sheppey Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Isle of Sheppey 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 Isle of Sheppey 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 Isle of Sheppey lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

Increase your lease and increase your Isle of Sheppey property value

Isle of Sheppey leases on residential properties are gradually losing value. The shorter the remaining lease term becomes, the less it is worth – and as a result any extension of your lease gets more expensive. The majority of owners of residential leasehold property in Isle of Sheppey enjoy rights under legislation to extend the terms of their leases. Where you are a leasehold owner in Isle of Sheppey you would be well advised to see if your lease has between seventy and 90 years remaining. There are good reasons why a Isle of Sheppey leaseholder with a lease having around eighty years remaining should take action to make sure that a lease extension is put in place without delay

Isle of Sheppey property with a lease extension has roughly the same value as a freehold

It is generally accepted that a property with more than 100 years unexpired lease term is worth roughly the same as a freehold. Where an further ninety years added to all but the shortest lease, the premises will be worth the same as a freehold for many years ahead.

Banks and Building Societies will not loan monies on a short lease

Whether or not the lease is be regarded as a short lease depends on the specific mortgage company, yet lending institutions start to become nervous at around 75 years. This may be problematic once you come to market or remortgage your property as it will be practically unmortgageable. Even though you might have no immediate plan to sell but when you do your buyer will need to wait 2 years before being able to exercise the right to a an extension to the lease.

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;
Santander You must report the unexpired lease term to us and await our instructions if:
1. the unexpired term assumed by our valuer is between 55 and 82 years, but the actual unexpired term differs by more than one year (whether longer or shorter); or
2. the unexpired term assumed by our valuer is more than 82 years but the actual unexpired term is less than 82 years; or
3. no valuation report is provided
However, we will not accept a lease where on expiry of the mortgage:
(i) less than 50 years remain and all or part of the loan is repaid on an interest-only basis: or
(ii) less than 30 years remain and the loan is repaid on a capital and interest basis

We will accept a lease that has been extended under the provisions of the Leasehold Reform Act 1993 provided statutory compensation would be available to the leaseholder.
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.
Virgin 85 years at the time of completion. If it's less, we require it to be extended on or before completion.

Why use us for your lease extension in Isle of Sheppey?

Regardless of whether you are a tenant or a freeholder in Isle of Sheppey,the lease extension experts that we work with will always be happy to discuss any residential leasehold matters and offer you the benefit of their experience and the close ties they enjoy with Isle of Sheppey valuers.

Isle of Sheppey Lease Extension Example Cases:

Hugo, Isle of Sheppey, Kent,

Hugo was the the leasehold proprietor of a 2 bedroom apartment in Isle of Sheppey being marketed with a lease of a little over 61 years outstanding. Hugo on an informal basis spoke with his freeholder a well known local-based freehold company for a lease extension. The landlord was keen to grant an extension on non-statutory terms taking the lease to 125 years subject to a new rent initially set at £150 per annum and increase every twenty five years thereafter. No ground rent would be due on a lease extension were Hugo to invoke his statutory right. Hugo obtained expert advice and secured an acceptable resolution without resorting to tribunal and readily saleable.

Isle of Sheppey case:

In 2012 we were contacted by Mr and Mrs. O Hill who, having owned a studio apartment in Isle of Sheppey in June 2008. The dilemma was if we could estimate the price could be to prolong the lease by 90 years. Comparative flats in Isle of Sheppey with 100 year plus lease were worth £205,000. The mid-range ground rent payable was £50 billed annually. The lease finished on 12 September 2104. Taking into account 78 years unexpired we approximated the premium to the freeholder to extend the lease to be within £8,600 and £9,800 not including costs.

Isle of Sheppey case:

Mr Tommy Michel purchased a one bedroom apartment in Isle of Sheppey in January 2001. The question was if we could estimate the price would likely be for a 90 year lease extension. Comparable residencies in Isle of Sheppey with 100 year plus lease were worth £267,600. The mid-range ground rent payable was £65 invoiced yearly. The lease lapsed on 7 February 2093. Given that there were 67 years remaining we calculated the premium to the freeholder to extend the lease to be within £14,300 and £16,400 exclusive of fees.