When it comes to residential leasehold premises in Horfield, 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 consider a lease extension sooner as opposed to later. The general rule is that the shorter the number of years is the cost of extending the lease increases markedly notably when there are less than 80 years remaining. Residents in Horfield with a lease drawing near to 81 years remaining should seriously think of extending it sooner than later. When a lease has under 80 years outstanding, under the relevant legislation the freeholder is entitled to calculate and charge a greater premium, assessed on a technical multiplication, strangely termed as “marriage value” which is payable.
It is conventional wisdom that a residential leasehold with over one hundred years unexpired lease term is worth roughly the same as a freehold. Where an further ninety years added to all but the shortest lease, the residence will be equivalent in value to a freehold for decades to come.
| 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. |
| Birmingham Midshires | Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage. |
| Leeds Building Society | 85 years remaining from the start 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 |
| Virgin | 85 years at the time of completion. If it's less, we require it to be extended on or before completion. |
Irrespective of whether you are a tenant or a freeholder in Horfield,the lease extension lawyers that we work with will always be happy to discuss any residential leasehold matters and offer you the benefit of their experience and the close ties they enjoy with Horfield valuers.
In recent months James, came perilously close to the 80-year mark with the lease on his basement flat in Horfield. In buying his flat two decades ago, the lease term was of no concern. Thankfully, it dawned on him that he would imminently be paying an escalated premium for a lease extension. James was able to extend his lease just in the nick of time in May. James and the freeholder ultimately settled on the final figure of £6,000 . If the lease had slid lower than eighty years, the price would have gone up by a minimum £850.
Last year we were contacted by Ms Kayleigh Davis , who moved into a garden apartment in Horfield in January 2009. The dilemma was if we could estimate the premium could be to prolong the lease by ninety years. Identical homes in Horfield with an extended lease were valued around £174,200. The average amount of ground rent was £55 collected quarterly. The lease concluded in 2076. Given that there were 51 years unexpired we estimated the compensation to the freeholder for the lease extension to be within £31,400 and £36,200 plus costs.
Dr I Gunderson completed a recently refurbished flat in Horfield in May 2008. The question was if we could estimate the compensation to the landlord would likely be to prolong the lease by 90 years. Comparative residencies in Horfield with 100 year plus lease were valued around £285,000. The mid-range ground rent payable was £45 billed yearly. The lease ran out on 14 April 2096. Taking into account 71 years left we calculated the premium to the landlord to extend the lease to be within £12,400 and £14,200 plus professional charges.