Stop! Your Lease Extension in Newport Pagnell Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Newport Pagnell 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 Newport Pagnell 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.

Why you should start your Newport Pagnell lease extension


Main reasons to commence your Newport Pagnell lease extension today:

A Newport Pagnell leasehold property depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

Newport Pagnell leases on residential deteriorating in value. Where your lease has about 90 years left, you should start considering the need for a lease extension. It is important to recognise that it is that it is desirable for your lease extension to be in place before the term of the current lease falls lower than eighty years - otherwise a higher premium will be payable. Leasehold owners in Newport Pagnell will usually be legally entitled to a lease extension; however a solicitor will check your eligibility. In certain circumstances you may not qualify. There are prescribed timetables and steps to follow once the process has commenced so it’s sensible to be guided by a conveyancing solicitor during the process.

Newport Pagnell property with a lease extension is almost the same value as a freehold

It is generally considered that a residential leasehold with over one hundred years remaining is worth roughly the same as a freehold. Where an further 90 years added to any lease with more than 35 years remaining, the property will be worth the same as a freehold for many years ahead.

Mortgage lenders may not finance a property on a short lease

Many mortgage companies will be unwilling to lend on a lease with under 70 years left to run - although this varies between mortgage companies. A purchaser will likely find it difficult to obtain a mortgage and this will result in your Newport Pagnell property becoming difficult to dispose of or to obtain finance on.

Lender Requirement
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.
Halifax Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
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.

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

Lease extensions in Newport Pagnell can be a difficult process. We recommend you secure professional help from a conveyancing solicitor and surveyor 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 procuring Newport Pagnell lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Newport Pagnell Lease Extension Example Cases:

Michael, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire,

Michael was the the leasehold proprietor of a high value flat in Newport Pagnell on the market with a lease of a little over 59 years outstanding. Michael on an informal basis approached his freeholder a well known London-based freehold company for a lease extension. The freeholder indicated a willingness to grant an extension taking the lease to 125 years on the basis of a new rent to start with set at £100 per annum and doubled every 25 years thereafter. Ordinarily, ground rent would not be payable on a lease extension were Michael to exercise his statutory right. Michael procured expert legal guidance and secured an acceptable resolution informally and sell the property.

Newport Pagnell case:

Mr Eli Michel took over the lease of a basement flat in Newport Pagnell in July 1999. We are asked if we could estimate the price would be for a ninety year extension to my lease. Comparative properties in Newport Pagnell with an extended lease were valued about £260,000. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £50 invoiced yearly. The lease terminated on 19 November 2098. Considering the 72 years left we approximated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be between £9,500 and £11,000 exclusive of expenses.

Newport Pagnell case:

In 2009 we were phoned by Dr Leon Hernández who, having purchased a purpose-built flat in Newport Pagnell in October 1997. We are asked if we could shed any light on how much (roughly) premium would be for a ninety year lease extension. Comparable homes in Newport Pagnell with 100 year plus lease were valued around £261,600. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £60 billed yearly. The lease expiry date was in 2078. Having 52 years left we approximated the compensation to the landlord to extend the lease to be within £39,000 and £45,000 exclusive of legals.