Stop! Your Lease Extension in New Barnet Could Be FREE

Many leaseholders in New Barnet 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 New Barnet 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 commence your New Barnet lease extension


Top reasons for lease extension now:

A New Barnet lease depreciates with the years remaining on the lease.

Chances are that where you own a flat in New Barnet you actually own a long leasehold interest over your property

An extended lease has roughly the same value as a freehold

It is conventional wisdom that a residential leasehold with in excess of one hundred years remaining is worth approximately the same as a freehold. Where an additional 90 years added to any lease with more than 45 years remaining, the premises will be worth the same as a freehold for many years ahead.

Lenders may decide not to loan monies on a short lease

Whether or not the lease is be regarded as a short lease depends on the specific mortgage company, yet banks and building societies start to get nervous at around 75 years. This may be problematic as and when you wish to market or remortgage your property as it will be practically unmortgageable. Even though you might not have an immediate plan to sell but when you do your buyer must hold off for two years before being able to exercise the right to a an extension to the lease.

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;
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.
Coventry Building Society A minimum of 70 years unexpired lease at completion for all scheme types apart from Lifetime Mortgages (Equity Release), which require a minimum unexpired term of 80 years at completion.
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
Royal Bank of Scotland Mortgage term plus 30 years.

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

Lease extensions in New Barnet can be a difficult process. We recommend you get professional help from a conveyancing solicitor and surveyor well versed in the legislation and lease extension process.

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 in-depth market knowledge dealing with New Barnet lease extensions and further afield, as well as any potential issues which may arise as well as problems with the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

New Barnet Lease Extension Case Studies:

Tommy, New Barnet, Hertfordshire,

Tommy owned a high value flat in New Barnet on the market with a lease of a little over 72 years remaining. Tommy on an informal basis contacted his freeholder being a well known local-based freehold company and enquired on a premium to extend the lease. The freeholder was keen to agree an extension on non-statutory terms taking the lease to 125 years subject to a new rent to start with set at £200 per annum and increase every 25 years thereafter. No ground rent would be payable on a lease extension were Tommy to exercise his statutory right. Tommy procured expert advice and was able to make a more informed decision and deal with the matter and readily saleable.

New Barnet case:

In 2014 we were called by Dr Bethany Wood who, having moved into a one bedroom flat in New Barnet in October 2004. We are asked if we could approximate the premium would likely be for a ninety year extension to my lease. Similar homes in New Barnet with an extended lease were valued about £225,400. The average amount of ground rent was £45 billed quarterly. The lease ended on 12 May 2090. Taking into account 64 years remaining we calculated the premium to the freeholder for the lease extension to be within £16,200 and £18,600 not including costs.

Decision in Barnet

An example of a Lease Extension case for a New Barnet property is Flat 2 2 Netherfield Road in April 2010. The Tribunale held that premium payable for a 90 year extension to the existing Lease should be £7,705. This case was in relation to 1 flat. The remaining number of years on the lease was 76 years.