Stop! Your Lease Extension in Leigh Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Leigh 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 Leigh 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 Leigh lease extension


Why you should commence your Leigh lease extension today:

Increase your lease and increase your Leigh property value

Leigh residential property held on a long lease is a wasting asset because a leaseholder only owns the property for a set term.

Leigh property with a lease extension has roughly the same value as a freehold

Leasehold premises in Leigh with over one hundred years remaining on the lease are sometimes regarded as a ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your premises. In such circumstances there is often little to be gained by purchasing the freehold unless savings on ground rent and maintenance charges warrant it.

Banks and Building Societies may decide not to issue a mortgage 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 get 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 may not have an immediate desire to sell but when you do your buyer will have to hold off for 2 years before being able to start the legal procedures for a lease extension.

Lender Requirement
Bank of Scotland Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
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.
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.
Virgin 85 years at the time of completion. If it's less, we require it to be extended on or before completion.

What makes us experts in Leigh lease extensions?

The conveyancing solicitors that we work with undertake Leigh 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 lawyer we work with provide it.

Leigh Lease Extension Case Summaries:

Eleanor, Leigh, Greater Manchester,

In the wake of eight months of unsuccessful negotiations with the freeholder of her garden apartment in Leigh, Eleanor started the lease extension process as the 80 year mark was rapidly advancing. The lease extension was concluded in July 2005. The landlord’s fees were kept to an absolute minimum.

Leigh case:

In 2012 we were called by Dr P Michel who, having moved into a one bedroom flat in Leigh in November 2009. The dilemma was if we could estimate the premium would be to extend the lease by an additional years. Comparative flats in Leigh with 100 year plus lease were worth £295,000. The average ground rent payable was £50 invoiced annually. The lease expiry date was on 28 September 2101. Taking into account 75 years as a residual term we estimated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be between £8,600 and £9,800 not including fees.

Leigh case:

Mrs T Cox was assigned a lease of a garden apartment in Leigh in July 2001. The dilemma was if we could approximate the price would likely be to extend the lease by 90 years. Comparable residencies in Leigh with 100 year plus lease were valued about £250,400. The mid-range ground rent payable was £65 billed yearly. The lease expired in 2090. Taking into account 64 years outstanding we estimated the compensation to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £19,000 and £22,000 exclusive of expenses.