Stop! Your Lease Extension in Dalston Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in Dalston 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 Dalston 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 start your Dalston lease extension


Main reasons to commence your Dalston lease extension today:

Increase your lease and increase your Dalston property value

Dalston residential property held on a long lease is a depreciating asset because a leaseholder merely owns the property for a period of years.

An extended lease is almost the same value as a freehold

Leasehold properties in Dalston with more than one hundred years outstanding 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 premises. In such situations there is often little to be gained by buying the freehold unless savings on ground rent and service charges justify it.

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

Mortgage Lenders vary in their lending criteria. Some set the bar at 75 years remaining on the lease; others may be willing to lend with anything over seventy years. With less than 60 years, it may be problematic to get a mortgage at all.

Lender Requirement
Bank of Scotland Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
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;
Barnsley Building Society 60 years from the date of the mortgage application subject to 35 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
Halifax Minimum 70 years from the date 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

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

Irrespective of whether you are a tenant or a landlord in Dalston,the lease extension experts that we work with will always be happy to discuss any residential leasehold matters and offer you the benefit of their in-depth market knowledge and the close ties they enjoy with Dalston valuers.

Dalston Lease Extension Case Summaries:

Chelsea, Dalston, London,

In the wake of eight months of unsuccessful negotiations with the landlord of her purpose-built flat in Dalston, Chelsea initiated the lease extension process just as the lease was nearing the critical 80-year threshold. The lease extension completed in January 2013. The landlord’s charges were restricted to slightly above 550 pounds.

Dalston case:

Mr Stanley Wilson completed a garden apartment in Dalston in September 2000. The question was if we could estimate the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease. Similar properties in Dalston with an extended lease were in the region of £295,000. The average amount of ground rent was £45 billed quarterly. The lease ran out on 18 August 2101. Considering the 75 years left we approximated the compensation to the freeholder for the lease extension to be within £8,600 and £9,800 not including costs.

Decision in Hackney

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement decision for a Dalston residence is 150 Amhurst Road in December 2013. The tribunal concluded that the premium to be paid by the applicant for the enfranchisement of the subject property was £43,500. This case related to 4 flats. The unexpired term was 90 (or thereabouts).