Stop! Your Lease Extension in Oughtibridge Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Oughtibridge 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 Oughtibridge 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 Oughtibridge lease extension


Why you should start your Oughtibridge lease extension today:

A Oughtibridge leasehold property depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

On the balance of probabilities if you own a flat in Oughtibridge you actually own a long leasehold interest over your property

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

It is generally accepted that a property with over 100 years remaining is worth approximately the same as a freehold. Where an further ninety years added to all but the shortest lease, the residence will be worth the same as a freehold for many years in the future.

Banks and Building Societies may decide not to lend with a short lease

Nearly all banks and building societies will not grant a mortgage on a lease with less than seventy years left to run - although this varies from lender to lender. A purchaser will no doubt find it difficult in obtaining a mortgage and this will result in your Oughtibridge 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.
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start of the mortgage.
National Westminster Bank Mortgage term plus 30 years.

For Shared Ownership, the remaining term of the lease must be at least 30 years plus the term of the mortgage at the outset 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.

What makes us experts in Oughtibridge lease extensions?

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

Oughtibridge Lease Extension Example Cases:

Toby, Oughtibridge, South Yorkshire

In 2014 Toby, came very close to the eighty-year mark with the lease on his studio apartment in Oughtibridge. Having purchased his property 18 years ago, the lease term was of no relevance. Thankfully, he recognised he needed to take steps soon on a lease extension. Toby extended the lease at the eleventh hour last September. Toby and the landlord in the end agreed on sum of £5,000 . If he had missed the deadline, the figure would have become more costly by at least £1,100.

Oughtibridge case:

Mr and Mrs. R Ramírez acquired a one bedroom apartment in Oughtibridge in May 2003. The dilemma was if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) compensation to the landlord could be to extend the lease by ninety years. Similar homes in Oughtibridge with 100 year plus lease were in the region of £183,600. The mid-range ground rent payable was £65 billed annually. The lease ended on 4 July 2083. Taking into account 57 years remaining we calculated the compensation to the landlord to extend the lease to be within £28,500 and £33,000 exclusive of costs.

Oughtibridge case:

In 2014 we were called by Mr S Díaz who, having bought a first floor apartment in Oughtibridge in July 2007. The dilemma was if we could estimate the price would be for a 90 year lease extension. Comparable homes in Oughtibridge with a long lease were in the region of £245,000. The average ground rent payable was £50 billed every twelve months. The lease terminated on 18 July 2094. Taking into account 68 years outstanding we estimated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £9,500 and £11,000 exclusive of expenses.