Stop! Your Lease Extension in Lytchett Matravers Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Lytchett Matravers 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 Lytchett Matravers 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 start your Lytchett Matravers lease extension


Main reasons to commence your Lytchett Matravers lease extension today:

A Lytchett Matravers lease depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

Lytchett Matravers leases on residential properties are gradually losing value. Where your lease has in the region of 90 years remaining, you should start considering the need for a lease extension. Eighty years is a significant number: when the unexpired term of a lease drops below this level then you start paying an additional element called marriage value. Flat owners in Lytchett Matravers will usually be legally entitled to a lease extension; however It would be wise to check with a conveyancing solicitor to check if you qualify. In certain circumstances you may not qualify. There are also strict deadlines and procedures to follow once the process is initiated so it’s sensible to be guided by a conveyancer during the process.

Lytchett Matravers property with a lease extension is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold premises in Lytchett Matravers with over 100 years unexpired on the lease are sometimes referred to as ‘virtual freehold’. This is where the lease is worth the same as a freehold interest in your property. In such situations there is often little to be gained by buying the freehold unless savings on ground rent and service charges warrant it.

Lending institutions may decide not to finance a property with a short lease

Lenders are making their criteria more stringent and many now expect flats to have at least sixty if not seventy years remaining once the mortgage has expired. As plenty of flats in Lytchett Matravers were created in the fifties, sixties and seventies this means many now require lease extensions if they wish to obtain a mortgage.

Lender Requirement
Accord Mortgages 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.
Bank of Scotland Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
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
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.

Why use us for your lease extension in Lytchett Matravers?

Engaging our service will provide you enhanced control over the value of your Lytchett Matravers leasehold, as your property will be more valuable and saleable in relation to the lease length should you wish to sell. The lawyers that we work with have a wealth of experience of handling many hundreds of lease extensions or freehold purchase transactions.

Lytchett Matravers Lease Extension Example Cases:

Lucas, Lytchett Matravers, Dorset

Last Christmas Lucas, started to get close to the eighty-year mark with the lease on his ground floor flat in Lytchett Matravers. In buying his flat 19 years ago, the lease term was of minimal interest. Thankfully, he noticed he needed to take action soon on Extending the lease. Lucas arranged for a lease extension just in the nick of time last August. Lucas and the freeholder via the management company eventually settled on a premium of £5,000 . If the lease had fallen to less than eighty years, the amount would have gone up by at least £950.

Lytchett Matravers case:

In 2010 we were approached by Mr and Mrs. L Davies who, having bought a purpose-built apartment in Lytchett Matravers in September 2008. The dilemma was if we could shed any light on how much (approximately) premium would be to prolong the lease by ninety years. Similar premises in Lytchett Matravers with 100 year plus lease were in the region of £290,000. The mid-range ground rent payable was £55 invoiced monthly. The lease finished in 2106. Given that there were 80 years as a residual term we approximated the compensation to the freeholder to extend the lease to be within £12,400 and £14,200 not including costs.

Lytchett Matravers case:

Mr and Mrs. L Moreau acquired a one bedroom flat in Lytchett Matravers in August 1995. We are asked if we could shed any light on how much (roughly) price could be to prolong the lease by 90 years. Comparative properties in Lytchett Matravers with 100 year plus lease were worth £200,800. The mid-range ground rent payable was £65 invoiced quarterly. The lease elapsed on 20 April 2086. Having 60 years unexpired we estimated the compensation to the freeholder to extend the lease to be between £20,900 and £24,200 not including expenses.