Stop! Your Lease Extension in Welwyn Garden City Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Welwyn Garden City 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 Welwyn Garden City 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 Welwyn Garden City lease extension


Main reasons to start your Welwyn Garden City lease extension today:

Increase your lease and increase your Welwyn Garden City property value

Unfortunately that a Welwyn Garden City residential lease is a deteriorating asset. The lease value reduces in proportion to its lease length. The extent of this is not fully appreciated in the first few years due to the deflation being disguised by increases in the Welwyn Garden City property market.Where your lease has approximately 90 years left, you should start considering a lease extension. An important point to note is that it is desirable for lease extension to take place before the term of the existing lease falls under 80 years - otherwise a higher amount will be due. The majority of flat owners in Welwyn Garden City will be able to extend under the legislation; however a conveyancer will be able to clarify whether you qualify for an extension. In some cases you may not qualify. There are also strict timeframes and procedures to be adhered to once the process is instigated and you will need to be guided by your lawyer from beginning to end of the formalities.

Welwyn Garden City property with a lease extension has roughly the same value as a freehold

Leasehold premises in Welwyn Garden City with more than 100 years left on the lease are often referred to as ‘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 buying the reversionary interest unless savings on ground rent and estate charges justify it.

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

Most high street banks are tightening their criteria and a meaningful number now require flats to have a minimum of sixty if not seventy years left once the mortgage has expired. Considering plenty of flats in Welwyn Garden City were built in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s as a result many now need to be extended if they wish to get a mortgage.

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.
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.
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.
Leeds Building Society 85 years remaining from the start of the mortgage.
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 Welwyn Garden City?

Regardless of whether you are a tenant or a landlord in Welwyn Garden City,the lease extension lawyers that we work with will always be willing to discuss any residential leasehold matters and offer you the benefit of their experience and the close ties they enjoy with Welwyn Garden City valuers.

Welwyn Garden City Lease Extension Case Studies:

Lily, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire,

In the wake of eight months of lengthy discussions with the landlord of her first floor apartment in Welwyn Garden City, Lily started the lease extension process just as the lease was approaching the crucial eighty-year threshold. The lease extension completed in November 2010. The freeholder’s charges were kept to an absolute minimum.

Welwyn Garden City case:

Last year we were phoned by Ms Ellen Ricardo , who moved into a first floor flat in Welwyn Garden City in April 2008. The dilemma was if we could estimate the price would be for a 90 year lease extension. Comparative premises in Welwyn Garden City with a long lease were in the region of £225,400. The mid-range ground rent payable was £45 billed yearly. The lease elapsed on 25 August 2090. Having 64 years as a residual term we approximated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £16,200 and £18,600 not including expenses.

Welwyn Garden City case:

Last year we were approach by Mrs Olivia Díaz , who acquired a purpose-built flat in Welwyn Garden City in June 1996. The question was if we could shed any light on how much (roughly) compensation to the landlord would likely be to extend the lease by a further 90 years. Comparable properties in Welwyn Garden City with a long lease were worth £270,000. The average ground rent payable was £55 invoiced every twelve months. The lease elapsed in 2101. Taking into account 75 years unexpired we approximated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be between £9,500 and £11,000 not including fees.