Stop! Your Lease Extension in Totnes Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Totnes 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 Totnes 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 Totnes lease extension


Why you should start your Totnes lease extension today:

A Totnes lease depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

There is no doubt about it a leasehold property in Totnes is a wasting asset as a result of the shortening lease. If the residual term has, more than 125 years remaining then this decrease may be negligible nevertheless there will become a stage 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 main logic behind why you should extend the lease without delay. Most flat owners in Totnes will meet the qualifying criteria; nevertheless a conveyancer will be able to advise whether you qualify for a lease extension. In certain situations you may not qualify, the most common reason being that you have not been the owner of the property for two years.

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

Leasehold properties in Totnes with over 100 years unexpired on the lease are often referred to as ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease value the same as a freehold interest in your property. In such circumstances there is often little to be gained by buying the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and estate charges merit it.

Banks and Building Societies will not grant a mortgage on a short lease

Most mortgage lenders have tightened lending criteria in the last ten years and borrowers are finding it increasingly difficult to raise funding or re-mortgage against property with shorter lease terms, particularly below seventy years as they are deemed to be unacceptable security.

Lender Requirement
Accord Mortgages
Bank of Scotland
Barnsley Building Society
Godiva Mortgages
Nationwide Building Society

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

Lease extensions in Totnes can be a difficult process. We recommend you procure guidance from a conveyancing solicitor and valuer well versed in the legislation and lease extension process.

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 Totnes lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Totnes Lease Extension Example Cases:

Oliver, Totnes, Devon,

Oliver was the the leasehold owner of a high value apartment in Totnes on the market with a lease of a few days over fifty eight years unexpired. Oliver on an informal basis approached his landlord being a well known local-based freehold company and enquired on a premium to extend the lease. The freeholder indicated a willingness to extend the lease to 125 years on the basis of a new rent to start with set at £100 per annum and doubled every twenty five years thereafter. No ground rent would be payable on a lease extension were Oliver to exercise his statutory right. Oliver procured expert advice and secured satisfactory resolution informally and readily saleable.

Totnes case:

Last Winter we were called by Dr Grace Peterson , who moved into a garden apartment in Totnes in March 2011. We are asked if we could shed any light on how much (roughly) compensation to the landlord could be for a 90 year lease extension. Similar residencies in Totnes with 100 year plus lease were in the region of £210,600. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £45 billed quarterly. The lease expired on 11 September 2088. Given that there were 62 years remaining we calculated the compensation to the freeholder to extend the lease to be within £18,100 and £20,800 exclusive of costs.

Totnes case:

Mr and Mrs. M Petit completed a ground floor flat in Totnes in September 2012. The question was if we could estimate the premium would be to extend the lease by ninety years. Similar homes in Totnes with an extended lease were worth £260,000. The average ground rent payable was £50 collected per annum. The lease finished on 5 November 2099. Given that there were 73 years as a residual term we estimated the premium to the freeholder for the lease extension to be between £9,500 and £11,000 not including costs.