Stop! Your Lease Extension in Neath Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Neath 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 Neath 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 Neath lease extension


Why you should commence your Neath lease extension today:

Increase your lease and increase your Neath property value

When it comes to domestic leasehold premises in Neath, you are actually purchasing a right to reside in a property for a prescribed time frame. Modern flat leases are usually granted for 99 years or 125. Even though this may appear like a lengthy period of time, you should think about extending the lease sooner as opposed to later. Accepted thinking is that the shorter the lease is the cost of extending the lease becomes disproportionately greater notably when there are fewer than 80 years left. Anyone in Neath with a lease approaching 81 years remaining should seriously consider extending it sooner than later. When a lease has less than eighty years remaining, under the current statute the landlord can calculate and charge a larger premium, assessed on a technical multiplication, strangely termed as “marriage value” which is payable.

An extended lease is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold premises in Neath with over one hundred years left on the lease are sometimes regarded as a ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your property. In such situations there is often little upside in buying the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and maintenance charges warrant it.

Mortgage lenders may not finance a property on a short lease

Mortgage lenders have specific criteria when loaning funds secured on leasehold homes. Some will simply refrain from lending at all once the residual lease term drops under a specified unexpired lease term. Many Banks and Building Societies will not consider property with an unexpired below 75 years as acceptable security. As well as this being important when selling, it is also relevant where you are wanting to refinance your Neath home.

Lender Requirement
Halifax Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start of the mortgage.
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.
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
Royal Bank of Scotland Mortgage term plus 30 years.

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

Lease extensions in Neath can be a difficult process. We recommend you get guidance from a conveyancing solicitor 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 a wealth of experience dealing with Neath lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Neath Lease Extension Example Cases:

Hunter, Neath, Baglan

Last Autumn Hunter, started to get near to the eighty-year threshold with the lease on his studio apartment in Neath. In buying his home two decades ago, the lease term was of little concern. Luckily, he realised he needed to take action soon on Extending the lease. Hunter was able to extend his lease just under the wire in May. Hunter and the landlord in the end settled on the final figure of £5,000 . If the lease had dropped below 80 years, the sum would have gone up by a minimum £1,000.

Neath case:

In 2012 we were e-mailed by Dr F Kelly who, having bought a newly refurbished flat in Neath in July 2005. The dilemma was if we could estimate the compensation to the landlord could be to prolong the lease by 90 years. Comparative flats in Neath with an extended lease were valued about £255,000. The average amount of ground rent was £50 invoiced annually. The lease expired in 2097. Having 71 years outstanding we estimated the compensation to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £9,500 and £11,000 plus fees.

Neath case:

In 2010 we were e-mailed by Mr David Collins who, having owned a basement apartment in Neath in September 2003. We are asked if we could approximate the price would be to extend the lease by ninety years. Similar homes in Neath with a long lease were worth £249,200. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £60 billed monthly. The lease finished on 8 May 2077. Considering the 51 years left we estimated the compensation to the freeholder for the lease extension to be between £43,700 and £50,600 not including expenses.