Stop! Your Lease Extension in Dunmow Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Dunmow 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 Dunmow 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 Dunmow lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

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

Dunmow leases on domestic deteriorating in value. if your lease has approximately ninety years remaining, you should start considering the need for a lease extension. It is important to recognise that it is that it is financially advisable for a lease extension to take place before the term of the existing lease drops below 80 years - otherwise a higher amount will be due. Flat owners in Dunmow will mostly be legally entitled to a lease extension; however a solicitor should be able confirm if you qualify. In certain cases you may not be entitled. There are also strict deadlines and procedures to comply with once the process is initiated so it’s prudent to be guided by a lawyer during the process.

Dunmow property with a lease extension has roughly the same value as a freehold

It is conventional wisdom that a residential leasehold with in excess of 100 years unexpired lease term is worth approximately the same as a freehold. Where an additional 90 years added to any lease with more than 35 years remaining, the residence will be equivalent in value to a freehold for many years ahead.

Mortgage lenders may not issue a mortgage with a short lease

Mortgage Lenders differ in their lending requirements. Some draw the line at seventy five years left on the lease; others may be willing to lend with anything in excess 70 years. Below 60 years, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage at all.

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.
Halifax Minimum 70 years from the date 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.
Yorkshire 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.

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

Lease extensions in Dunmow can be a difficult process. We recommend you obtain guidance from a conveyancer and valuer with experience in this area.

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

Dunmow Lease Extension Example Cases:

Thomas, Dunmow, Essex

In 2014 Thomas, started to get near to the 80-year threshold with the lease on his two bedroom flat in Dunmow. In buying his home 18 years ago, the unexpired term was of no concern. by good luck, he realised he would imminently be paying way over the odds for a lease extension. Thomas was able to extend his lease just under the wire in August. Thomas and the landlord in the end agreed on the final figure of £6,000 . If the lease had slipped to less than 80 years, the figure would have become more exhorbitant by a minimum £925.

Dunmow case:

Mr and Mrs. G Kelly took over the lease of a basement apartment in Dunmow in July 1995. We are asked if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) compensation to the landlord could be to extend the lease by 90 years. Comparable premises in Dunmow with a long lease were in the region of £181,600. The mid-range amount of ground rent was £55 collected annually. The lease termination date was in 2078. Taking into account 52 years left we estimated the compensation to the freeholder for the lease extension to be between £30,400 and £35,200 plus professional charges.

Dunmow case:

Mr and Mrs. M Thompson bought a ground floor apartment in Dunmow in September 2005. We are asked if we could estimate the premium would be to prolong the lease by an additional years. Identical premises in Dunmow with an extended lease were worth £285,000. The average ground rent payable was £45 collected yearly. The lease came to a finish on 23 September 2098. Considering the 72 years unexpired we estimated the compensation to the landlord to extend the lease to be within £12,400 and £14,200 not including expenses.