When it comes to residential leasehold property in Willen, you effectively rent it for a certain period of time. Modern flat leases typically tend to be for 99 years or 125. Even though this may appear like a long period of time, you may think about a lease extension sooner as opposed to later. Accepted thinking is that the shorter the number of years is the cost of extending the lease increases markedly particularly when there are less than eighty years left. Anyone in Willen with a lease drawing near to 81 years unexpired should seriously consider extending it without delay. When a lease has under eighty years left, under the current legislation the freeholder can calculate and levy a larger premium, assessed on a technical calculation, known as “marriage value” which is payable.
It is conventional wisdom that a property with in excess of one hundred years remaining is worth approximately the same as a freehold. Where an further ninety years added to any lease with more than 35 years unexpired, the premises will be worth the same as a freehold for many years in the future.
| Lender | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Birmingham Midshires | Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage. |
| Lloyds TSB Scotland | Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage. |
| National Westminster Bank | Mortgage term plus 30 years. For Shared Ownership, the remaining term of the lease must also be not less than 75 years at the outset of the mortgage. |
| 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. |
| Virgin | 85 years at the time of completion. If it's less, we require it to be extended on or before completion. |
Retaining our service will provide you enhanced control over the value of your Willen leasehold, as your property will be more valuable and saleable in terms of lease length should you want to sell. The conveyancing solicitors that we work with are well versed in the legislation handling many hundreds of lease extensions or freehold purchase transactions.
Hunter was the the leasehold owner of a studio apartment in Willen on the market with a lease of a few days over 61 years left. Hunter on an informal basis approached his freeholder being a well known London-based freehold company for a lease extension. The landlord indicated a willingness to grant an extension taking the lease to 125 years on the basis of a rise in the rent to £200 annually. No ground rent would be payable on a lease extension were Hunter to exercise his statutory right. Hunter obtained expert advice and secured satisfactory deal without resorting to tribunal and sell the property.
In 2013 we were approached by Mr and Mrs. V Morris who, having moved into a studio flat in Willen in May 2001. The dilemma was if we could estimate the price would be to prolong the lease by ninety years. Comparative residencies in Willen with an extended lease were worth £174,200. The mid-range ground rent payable was £55 invoiced yearly. The lease expired in 2076. Having 51 years outstanding we calculated the compensation to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £31,400 and £36,200 exclusive of expenses.
Dr U Petit owned a one bedroom apartment in Willen in January 2009. The question was if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) premium could be to extend the lease by ninety years. Comparable homes in Willen with 100 year plus lease were worth £285,000. The average ground rent payable was £45 billed yearly. The lease elapsed on 5 April 2096. Having 71 years unexpired we estimated the premium to the freeholder to extend the lease to be between £12,400 and £14,200 exclusive of legals.