Stop! Your Lease Extension in Blackfen Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Blackfen 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 Blackfen 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 commence your Blackfen lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

Increase your lease and increase your Blackfen property value

The value of Blackfen leasehold residential property falls as the lease term becomes shorter and this will have an impact on its saleability. The cost of extending the lease can increase significantly once the unexpired lease term is less than 80 years

An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold

Leasehold properties in Blackfen with in excess of one hundred years left on the lease are often referred to as ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease is worth the same as a freehold interest in your property. In such circumstances there is often little to be gained by purchasing the freehold unless savings on ground rent and service charges warrant it.

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

Banks and building societies are distinct in their lending requirements. Some set the bar at 75 years remaining on the lease; others may be happy with anything in excess 70 years. With less than 60 years, it may be problematic to obtain a mortgage at all.

Lender Requirement
Barclays plc Leases with less than 70 years at the commencement of the mortgage are not acceptable.

Leases with fewer than 70 years should only be referred to the issuing office where the following scenario applies, as discretion may be applied subject to bank approval:

• Property is located in any of the following prestigious developments: Cadogan, Crown, Grosvenor, Howard de Walden, Portman or Wellcome Trust Estates in Central London AND
• The value of the property subject to the short remaining term is £500,000 or more AND
• The loan to value does not exceed 90% for purchases, 90% like for like re-mortgages, 80% for re-mortgages with any element of capital raising and 80% for existing Barclays mortgage borrowers applying for additional borrowing;
Birmingham Midshires 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 be at least 75 years plus the term of the mortgage at the outset of the mortgage.
TSB Minimum of 70 years at mortgage commencement, with 30 years remaining at mortgage redemption.
Virgin 85 years at the time of completion. If it's less, we require it to be extended on or before completion.

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

The lawyers that we work with procure Blackfen lease extensions and help protect your position. A lease extension can be arranged to be completed to coincide with a change of ownership so the costs of the lease extension are paid for using part of the sale proceeds. You really do need expert legal advice in this difficult and technical area of law. The conveyancer we work with provide it.

Blackfen Lease Extension Example Cases:

Rhiannon, Blackfen, South East London,

Subsequent to unsuccessful correspondence with the landlord of her two bedroom apartment in Blackfen, Rhiannon initiated the lease extension process as the eighty year mark was quickly nearing. The legal work completed in October 2007. The freeholder’s charges were negotiated to slightly above 500 GBP.

Blackfen case:

In 2012 we were e-mailed by Dr Noah Howard who, having purchased a purpose-built apartment in Blackfen in January 2005. We are asked if we could approximate the premium could be for a ninety year lease extension. Identical residencies in Blackfen with an extended lease were valued around £254,200. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £60 collected yearly. The lease terminated on 9 May 2077. Taking into account 51 years as a residual term we approximated the premium to the landlord for the lease extension to be within £43,700 and £50,600 not including fees.

Decision in Greenwich

An example of a Lease Extension case for a Blackfen premises 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 affected 1 flat.