Stop! Your Lease Extension in South London Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in South London 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 South London 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.

Top reasons for South London lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

A South London leasehold property depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

As the the remaining lease term of a South London domestic lease decreases so does its value and therefore the value of your property. Where the lease has, beyond 125 years remaining then this decrease may be negligible nevertheless there will become a point in time when a lease has under than eighty years remaining as part of the premium you will incur is what is known as a marriage value. This could increase markedly the cost. It is the primary logic behind why you should consider extending without delay. Most flat owners in South London will meet the qualifying criteria; however a lawyer will be able to advise if you are eligible to extend your lease. In limited situations you may not qualify, the most frequent reason being that you have not been the owner of the property for two years.

An extended lease is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold premises in South London with more than one hundred years remaining on the lease are often regarded as a ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your premises. In such situations there is often little to be gained by purchasing the freehold unless savings on ground rent and service charges merit it.

Banks and Building Societies may decide not to loan monies on a short lease

Lenders do not like short residential leases. You are likely to encounter problems where you want to sell your flat in South London if the remaining term of your lease is less than the criteria set by most banks and building societies. Different mortgage companies have varying criteria but on the whole theyrequire a minimum remaining lease term of seventy years.

Lender Requirement
Barnsley Building Society 60 years from the date of the mortgage application subject to 35 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
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.
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.
Royal Bank of Scotland Mortgage term plus 30 years.

What makes us experts in South London lease extensions?

Irrespective of whether you are a tenant or a freeholder in South London,the lease extension experts that we work with will always be willing to discuss any residential leasehold matters and offer you the benefit of their in-depth market knowledge and the close ties they enjoy with South London valuers.

South London Lease Extension Case Summaries:

Sian, South London, London,

Following unsuccessful discussions with the freeholder of her one bedroom apartment in South London, Sian started the lease extension process as the eighty year mark was rapidly approaching. The lease extension was concluded in September 2015. The freeholder’s fees were negotiated to a tad over five hundred pounds.

South London case:

Last Christmas we were called by Mrs O Lefebvre , who completed a basement flat in South London in February 2012. The dilemma was if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) compensation to the landlord would likely be for a ninety year lease extension. Similar residencies in South London with an extended lease were valued around £290,000. The average ground rent payable was £45 collected monthly. The lease terminated in 2099. Considering the 73 years as a residual term we estimated the compensation to the landlord for the lease extension to be between £9,500 and £11,000 plus expenses.

Decision in Haringey

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a South London residence is Flat B 10 Grove Avenue in October 2013. Following a vesting order Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court 3rd July 2013 The tribunal determines that the premium payable for the lease extension was £36,215.00 This case related to 1 flat. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 65.21 years.