North London leases on residential properties are gradually diminishing in value. The shorter the remaining lease term becomes, the less it is worth – and accordingly any extension of the lease becomes more expensive. The majority of owners of residential leasehold property in North London enjoy rights under legislation to extend the terms of their leases. Where you are a leasehold owner in North London you really ought to check if your lease has between seventy and ninety years remaining. There are good reasons why a North London flat owner with a lease having around 80 years left should take action to ensure that a lease extension is put in place without delay
It is conventional wisdom that a property with more than 100 years unexpired lease term is worth approximately the equivalent as a freehold. Where an further ninety years added to any lease with more than 45 years remaining, the property will be worth the same as a freehold for decades to come.
| Lender | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Barclays plc | Leases with less than 70 years at the commencement of the mortgage should be declined (see exception below). Leases with greater than 70 years but fewer than 85 years remaining must be referred to issuing office. 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; |
| Birmingham Midshires | Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage. |
| Halifax | Minimum 70 years from the date 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. |
| TSB | Minimum of 70 years at mortgage commencement, with 30 years remaining at mortgage redemption. |
The lawyers that we work with procure North London 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 conveyancer we work with provide it.
Ben owned a high value flat in North London being marketed with a lease of a little over fifty eight years remaining. Ben informally approached his landlord a well known Manchester-based freehold company and enquired on a premium to extend the lease. The landlord was keen to grant an extension on non-statutory terms taking the lease to 125 years on the basis of an increased rent to £50 yearly. No ground rent would be due on a lease extension were Ben to invoke his statutory right. Ben procured expert legal guidance and was able to make a more informed judgement and deal with the matter and sell the flat.
Ms Chelsea Collins purchased a first floor flat in North London in May 1995. We are asked if we could approximate the compensation to the landlord could be for a ninety year lease extension. Comparable properties in North London with an extended lease were worth £225,800. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £60 billed per annum. The lease expiry date was on 21 March 2086. Considering the 60 years left we calculated the premium to the freeholder for the lease extension to be within £25,700 and £29,600 exclusive of expenses.
An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a North London residence is 20 Avonwick Road in July 2013. The Tribunal was dealing with an application under Section 26 of the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 for a determination of the freehold value of the property. It was concluded that the price to be paid was Fifteen Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventy (£15,970) divided as to £8,200 for Flat 20 and £7,770 for Flat 20A This case affected 1 flat. The number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 73.26 years.