Stop! Your Lease Extension in Sidcup Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Sidcup 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 Sidcup 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 commence your Sidcup lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

Increase your lease and increase your Sidcup property value

Sidcup leases on residential properties are gradually decreasing in value. The shorter the remaining lease term becomes, the less it is worth – and as a result any extension of your lease gets more expensive. The majority of owners of residential leasehold property in Sidcup enjoy rights under legislation to extend the terms of their leases. If you are a leasehold owner in Sidcup you would be well advised to check if your lease has between seventy and ninety years left. In particular once the remaining lease term slips under 80 years, the cost of any lease extension increases dramatically as an element of the premium you pay is what is known as a marriage value

An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold

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

Mortgage lenders may not issue a mortgage on a short lease

Banks and building societies vary in their lending criteria. Some set the bar at 75 years remaining on the lease; others may be content with anything over 70 years. With less than sixty years, it may be problematic to obtain a mortgage in the first place.

Lender Requirement
Accord Mortgages 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.
Coventry Building Society A minimum of 70 years unexpired lease at completion for all scheme types apart from Lifetime Mortgages (Equity Release), which require a minimum unexpired term of 80 years at completion.
National Westminster Bank Mortgage term plus 30 years.

For Shared Ownership, the remaining term of the lease must be at least 75 years plus the term of the mortgage at the outset 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

Why use us for your lease extension in Sidcup?

Using our service will provide you enhanced control over the value of your Sidcup leasehold, as your property will be more valuable and saleable in terms of lease length should you wish to sell. The lawyers that we work with are well versed in the legislation handling many hundreds of lease extensions or freehold purchase transactions.

Sidcup Lease Extension Case Studies:

Sophia, Sidcup, Kent,

Off the back of unsuccessful negotiations with the freeholder of her one bedroom flat in Sidcup, Sophia started the lease extension process as the 80 year threshold was quickly approaching. The lease extension completed in February 2006. The freeholder’s fees were restricted to approximately 650 pounds.

Sidcup case:

Ms Chelsea Adams moved into a one bedroom apartment in Sidcup in September 2008. The question was if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) price would likely be to prolong the lease by 90 years. Comparative residencies in Sidcup with a long lease were valued about £264,000. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £60 invoiced yearly. The lease ran out on 27 August 2079. Having 53 years as a residual term we calculated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £37,100 and £42,800 not including fees.

Decision in Greenwich

An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Sidcup flat is 103a Footscray Road in January 2014. The tribunal determines that the premium payable for the extended lease should be £34,500 according to the expert witness valuation calculation This case related to 1 flat.