Leeds Lease Extension Solicitors

Posted on by

If you own a flat in Leeds you will need to extend your lease at some point. The sooner you do this, the less expense you will face and our specialist lease extension team can help.

Thinking about extending your lease? Got a question? Call our specialist solicitors on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for FREE initial phone advice – with no strings attached.

YOUR RIGHT TO A LEASE EXTENSION

Sadly many people who own residential leasehold flats don’t understand their right to lease extension. This isn’t really surprising, as leasehold extensions are a complex area of the law with which many estate agents are not familiar and which many conveyancing solicitors don’t take the time to explain to their clients.

In basic terms, once you have been the owner of your flat for two years – even if you have never lived there yourself – you have the legal right to compel your freeholder to extend your lease by a period of 90 years, whether they like it or not.( It’s also possible to come to an informal or voluntary lease extension agreement with your freeholder – but that does come with risks).

As the period on you lease starts to run down, getting it extended becomes increasingly important. As well as facing the prospect of eventually handing the flat back to the freeholder, many property owners find out the hard way that flats with a short lease are difficult to get a mortgage to buy and therefore hard to sell.

It’s also important to realise that if you want to extend the lease straight away after purchase rather than waiting for two years, the person who is selling the flat to you can start the process of extending the lease before the sale goes through and then pass that on to the buyer once the deal is completed.

LEASE EXTENSION – DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN SPECIALIST ADVICE

Many property solicitors make the mistake of trying their hand at lease extensions under the assumption that they can’t be that difficult, only to discover that the various complications involved led them to make costly mistakes. Such complexities include:

• Various deadlines which must not be missed

• Confusing legislation surrounding residential lease extensions

• Obstinate landlords

• Landlords who knowingly hinder negotiations in order to let your lease run below 80 years (therefore costing you far more to extend it)

• Taking problematic landlords to the First-Tier Property Tribunal

• The difficulty of choosing an appropriate surveyor to value the lease

• Dealing with matters after completion

RECOGNISED LEASE EXTENSION EXPERTS

Our lease extension team is not simply a group of property solicitors who do the odd bit of lease extension work. It is a dedicated 5 strong team of lease extension specialists  –  lease extension and collective enfranchisement is all they do. And over the last 25 years we have helped around 10,000 people nationwide just like you extend their leases or buy the freehold of their block. So you’re in safe hands if you instruct us here at Bonallack & Bishop. We have the experience and know-how you require for your lease extension.

We are also members of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners – the only organisation representing specialist lease extension and and freehold enfranchisement surveyors. So, if you are looking for experts, we can help.

THINKING OF EXTENDING YOUR LEASE? DON’T DELAY – ACT NOW

Our advice is simple – now is a great time to extend your lease. Firstly, as every day goes by, the remaining term of your lease drops. And that increases the cost of which you will have to pay to extend your lease.

And the situation is made much worse if your property is gradually worth more – because one of the most important factors to look at when calculating the amount of the premium you’ll need to pay to extend your lease, is the actual value of the flat. So therefore, the downside of any increase in value in your flat is that it means you’re going to have to pay more for the privilege of lease extension.

LEASE EXTENSIONS FOR FLAT OWNERS IN LEEDS – GET IN TOUCH TODAY

Lease extensions very rarely require client and solicitor to meet in person so we should be able to conclude matters using telephone, email or Zoom video.

If you would like to learn any more about how we can help you to extend your lease , email our team using the contact form below, or call 01722 422300.

    Cardiff Lease Extension Solicitors

    Posted on by

    Looking for Lawyers who specialise in extending leases?

    Cardiff,Cardiff Lease Extension Solicitors. photo of Cardiff Castle as the capital city of Wales, has grown enormously in recent years – not least in the area surrounding the docks, where my grandad worked as a docker in the 1920s. City-wide development has seen it become a hub of business and industry as well as a burgeoning home to the creative arts.

    The population of Cardiff grew by a massive 54,000 between the 2001 and 2011 censuses — a growth of 18.5%, which in turn has put upward pressure on property prices. And these two factors are the main reasons why Cardiff has an increasing number of purpose-built flats and buildings converted into flats or apartments

    Any flat-owner who allows the term of their lease to dip below 80 years is likely to find themselves facing a high price for their lease extension. That is why it is so important to start the lease extension process sooner rather than later.

    Thinking about extending your lease? Got a question? Call our specialist solicitors on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for FREE initial phone advice – with no strings attached.

    WHY SHOULD I EXTEND MY LEASE?

    There are several reasons why you may want to consider extending your lease on your flat or apartment:

    • As the length of the lease decreases, the value of the property decreases. By extending your lease, you can increase the value of the property and make it more attractive to potential buyers if you decide to sell in the future.
    • It can be difficult to obtain a mortgage for a property with a short lease. Lenders are often unwilling to lend on properties with less than 70 years remaining on the lease, so extending the lease can make it easier to obtain financing.
    • It can also be difficult to sell a property with a short lease, as it is less attractive to potential buyers. Extending the lease can increase the pool of potential buyers and make it easier to sell the property.
    • If you are living in the property and want to stay, extending the lease ensures that you will have the right to remain in the property for a longer period of time.
    • If the lease is very short it can be very expensive to extend, so it is a good idea to do it before it gets too short.

    WHY A SPECIALIST SOLICITOR IS SO CRUCIAL

    People often question the need for a specialist lease extension solicitor in the belief that extending a lease cannot be that complicated. This is a very risky approach. Why?:

    • Lease extensions involve complex laws, drafting and tight deadlines

    • Your freeholder is almost certain to instruct a specialist lease extension solicitor of their own

    • Too many unscrupulous freeholders attempt to offer an informal or private lease extension  when a lease term is approaching the critical 80 year point – so that the lease runs below 80 years and costs far more to extend [click here to find out more about “marriage value” and the 80 year]

    • Specialist lease extension solicitors will understand exactly how to help you if your lease extension becomes contentious – and an application to the First Tier property Tribunal [previously known as the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal or LVT) becomes necessary

    WHY CHOOSE OUR SPECIALIST LEASE EXTENSION TEAM?

    Many firms let property lawyers with little or no  experience of lease extension cases to “have a go” at lease extensions – we see this a lot and these dabblers often make a complete mess. We think that’s really dangerous and that their clients’ best interests are not protected.

    Here at solicitors Bonallack and Bishop, we have a growing team of lease extension specialists. They don’t dabble. Lease extension leasehold enfranchisement and right to manage work is all they do. They are real experts.

    We are also members of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners, the only organisation of specialist lease extension and enfranchisement solicitors and surveyors.

    Click here for real case studies on how we have helped clients with extending leases.

    Click here to read about what many of our clients and the specialist values we instruct really think about us.

    How we can help

    • Our team provides FREE no obligation initial telephone advice on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544
      AND
    • We will provide you with a FREE ESTIMATE of how much it’s likely to cost you to extend your lease – which will include a rough idea of the  premium you’re likely to have to pay, along with both the legal and valuation costs.
      AND
    • We offer a one-stop shop – as we regularly work alongside specialist lease extension valuers nationwide, we can help you pick the right one and instruct them on your behalf
      AND
    • Our team can handle the lease extension process from start to finish –all the way, if necessary, to the First-Tier Tribunal – Property Chamber (Residential Property))

    LOOKING AT A CARDIFF LEASE EXTENSION? CONTACT OUR SPECIALISTS TODAY

    You don’t need to come in and see us to instruct us for your lease extension. We have dealt with many thousands of lease extensions over the years and our clients come from all over England and Wales – and almost all of them never actually meet us in person but stay in contact over the phone, using email or Zoom video.

    To save yourself worry and expense, start your lease extension process started today by getting in touch with our team –

    • for FREE initial no strings advice, call us now on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544
      OR
    • email us using the contact form below

      Lease Extension Valuations

      Posted on by

      My Lease Extension Valuation – do I really need a specialist surveyor?Lease Extension Valuation surveyor.

      Absolutely. If you are thinking about extending the lease on your flat under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (as amended), then you really do need to get in touch with a specialist surveyor who regularly deals with lease extension valuations.

      Why? Valuing a lease extension premium is extremely specialist work requiring a complex calculation which should be undertaken by a suitably qualified and experienced surveyor. Premium valuation work is outside the area of expertise of any solicitor, even one specialising in lease extension.

      And getting the right valuation is critical – because if you don’t, you could end up paying more, sometimes much more, to extend your lease. This is particularly important because it highly likely that your freeholder will appoint their own surveyor to value the lease extension – and if you don’t have your own valuation, you have little to go on except that provided by the freeholder. And that valuation is probably going to be at the top end and likely to mean you end up paying over the odds to extend your lease

      Need the right lease extension valuation? We can introduce you to the right surveyor from our national network of specialists as part of our one-stop shop service.  Call us now on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for FREE initial phone advice.

      How will a specialist lease extension surveyor help me?

      Your valuer will advise you of two things,

      • the first being the likely premium payable for the freehold and
      • a lower figure to include in the Initial Notice to be offered for the freehold.

      That offer figure will be intentionally lower so as to allow scope for negotiation.  It is also critical that the offer figure is reasonable – as otherwise, the freeholder could claim that your Notice is invalid.

      Marriage Value and Lease Extension

      If the lease on your property has less than 80 years left and you want to extend it, then the Leasehold Reform Act of 1993 states that you have to pay an additional cost to the freeholder. This cost is known as the “marriage value” and there is a great deal of confusion around what it means and how it is calculated.
      Click here to read an update about government plans to reform marriage value

      How does Marriage Value work?

      In basic terms, the “marriage value” is a difference in value for both the freeholder and leaseholder of the property with its 80 year lease, and the value of that lease if it is extended for another 90 years. It is called the marriage value as the value of the property plus the extended lease when they are “married” together is more than the value of just the property or the extended lease by itself.

      According to legislation, the freeholder or the landlord is legally entitled to a share of this marriage value. In the past this share was open to negotiation, but is now fixed at 50%. The marriage value itself can vary according to the number of years which are left to run on the lease when the leaseholder decides to make their application. There is an unbreakable connection between the market value of the property and the length of the lease, so if the lease is allow to carry on decreasing, the property’s value will decrease too.

      From a freeholder’s point of view, their 50% share of the marriage value gets larger the longer their leaseholder puts off applying for their lease extension after the 80 years milestone passes. Any delays in starting the ball rolling with a lease extension application can therefore be costly for the person making the application.

      There are a couple of other important things to be aware of when it comes to lease extensions and marriage value.

      • Marriage value only ever applies when you are going through a formal or statutory lease extension process.
      • Also, as soon as the term left on the year drops below 80 years, even by a single day, marriage value comes into play. This is worth bearing in mind if your lease is getting perilously close the 80 year mark as delays could end up costing you thousands.

      Remember that the marriage value for extending a lease which has more than 80 years to run is set at 0%.

      Marriage Value – 3 Golden Rules

      If there are three “golden rules” to take away from the whole topic of marriage value they are:

      1.      Never put off extending your lease. A canny leaseholder will make sure to start the process of extending their lease well before the 80 year mark starting looming on the horizon.

      2.      As soon as marriage value comes into play it will cost a lot more to extend the lease and is financially much better for your freeholder. It is not unheard of for freeholders to drag their feet over the process if the 80 year deadline isn’t too far away in the hope of getting more money.

      3.      If you’re in a property where the lease has already dropped below 80 years, every month you delay extending the lease is costing you money and increasing the marriage value.

      This can be a complex area of property law, so seek the advice of a specialist lease extension solicitor who can guide you through the process, making sure you keep expenses to a minimum and avoid traps.

      Finding the right specialist surveyor for your valuation

      Only a few surveyors have the right specialist experience to value your premium accurately.

      Most surveyors, while they are more than competent at routine valuation work, simply have little idea or practical experience of the specific calculations and factors involved when valuing the premium for a leasehold extension. Choosing a surveyor with plenty of practical experience of leasehold extension premium valuation and negotiation is simply essential.

      Using a professional expert witness at the First-Tier Property Tribunal

      If negotiations between the freeholder and the leaseholder end in stalemate, the leaseholder’s solicitor will then put the case to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal. Fortunately, in our experience, around 95% of negotiations are eventually successful, with just a few needing an application to the “First-Tier Tribunal – Property Chamber (Residential Property) for an independent review of the right premium to be paid. (The FTT was previously known as the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal or LVT)

      During the Tribunal the surveyor has the role of acting as an expert witness by preparing and presenting the evidence.

      In Need Of A Specialist Lease Extension Valuation? We Can Help

      Over the last two decades, our specialist lease extension and enfranchisement team have helped thousands of lease owners in extending the remaining term of their lease. As a result, we have built up a network of specialist lease extensions surveyors nationwide.

      These are surveyors with whom we have worked and who we have found to really understand issues surrounding valuation – and to provide clear and accurate written reports. What’s more, we regularly review our informal panel, to make sure we have the right surveyor for your valuation.

      So wherever your flat is in England and Wales, our team can sort out the legal side – and, if you wish, also arrange to appoint, on your behalf, a surveyor who really understands how to properly value your lease extension premium.

      • Just call us on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for a FREE initial phone consultation and a FREE no obligation quote for extending your lease OR

      • Complete the contact form below

        Extending a lease in Salisbury and Wiltshire

        Posted on by

        If you are looking at extending your lease either in Salisbury, or in fact anywhere in Extending a lease in Salisbury & Wiltshire. Specialist solicitorsWiltshire, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Salisbury and Amesbury Solicitors, Bonallack & Bishop, we have a 5 strong team who do nothing but lease extension and freehold purchase work – possibly the most specialist and largest team of its type in the country. And as you can see, this particular website is dedicated to lease extension alone.So you know, when you instruct us, that you’re getting real specialists. And that’s important, because most property solicitors only come across lease extensions from time to time – especially in rural areas like Wiltshire. and we can confidently say that there is no law firm anywhere in Wiltshire that comes anywhere near our specialist expertise in extending leases.

        And over the last 25 years, we have helped something like 10,000 people extend their leases or by the freehold of their block.

        When should I extend my lease?

        Extending the lease on your property is usually best done sooner rather than later. The reason for this is that the cost of extending your lease is based on 2 main factors

        1. the market value of your flat – so at a time when property rights prices are high or worse still, rising, any delay in extending your lease is going to lead to more costs

        2. the remaining length of your lease term – once the lease drops below 85 years you should really consider extending it. In particular because the moment that lease drops below 80 years, the price you’re going to need to pay to extend your lease (known as the premium), goes up – because your freeholder is entitled to charge an additional payment – called marriage value
        Click here to read more about lease extension marriage value

        Why Bother Extending My Lease?

        ·         It’s easier to sell your flat when it has a long lease.

        ·         A lease loses value every day as it gets closer to the end of the lease, whatever the economy is doing.

        ·         The cost of extending the lease is partly based on the value of the flat at the time the leaseholder formally tells their landlord they are seeking an extension. This means the leaseholder is at an advantage if prices then start to increase again.

        ·         You have the legal right to extend your lease in most cases. Your legal right to extend your lease by 90 years is known as the formal statutory method – though it is also possible to negotiate informal or private lease extensions with your freeholder – though this type of voluntary agreement does come with risks.
        Click here to read more about voluntary lease extensions

        ·         Prospective buyers will find it difficult to get a mortgage if the lease on your flat is less than 70 years.

        ·         If your lease has less than 80 years to run, it will get increasingly expensive to extend as it is then liable for something known as Marriage Value, which means you have to share any profit from the increase in value of your flat with your landlord.

        Thinking of extending your lease? For legal advice you can trust, call us now

        Although our specialist leasehold extension team is based in Salisbury not only do we regularly handle cases throughout Wiltshire, but our client base for this particular specialist service is nationwide.

        And Although we always like to meet our clients, when it comes to lease extension work we don’t even need to see you – taking your instructions by e-mail, phone and Zoom video:

        So if you’re thinking of extending your lease;

        • Just call us on Salisbury (01722) 422300 for a FREE initial phone consultation and a FREE quote for your lease extension, OR
        • Complete the email contact form below

          Selling a flat with a short lease

          Posted on by

          Does a short lease matter?Selling a flat with a short lease. Specialist leasehold extension solicitors

          Certain things in life are inevitable – death, taxes and the raw truth that day by day, your lease is getting shorter. But when you’re selling a flat, with a short lease, does the length of the lease term really matter?

          Quite apart from the fact that if you don’t extend your lease then eventually it’s going to expire and you will no longer own that flat, ending up with a short lease has some problematic consequences. That’s just 1 of the reasons why, if you’re looking at selling a flat with a short lease, extending your lease is so important

          Got a lease extension question? Call our specialist solicitors on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for FREE initial phone advice – with no strings attached.

          Selling a flat with a short lease – serious mortgage problems

          Not least amongst the potential problems with a short lease is the fact that, increasingly, mortgage lenders are reluctant to lend on short leases. So, selling a flat with a short lease may prove difficult.

          But don’t just take our word for it – at the bottom of the page you will see an extract from some recent figures on the Council of Mortgage Lenders website and the link to bang up-to-date information which shows that it’s become pretty difficult to obtain a mortgage on any residential property with a short lease.

          And what do we mean by a short lease? There is no legal definition of a short lease and there is no doubt that in the last 10 years, mortgage companies have really moved the goalposts by requiring increasingly longer leases before they will consider a loan.

          As you’ll see, many of the leading mortgage companies won’t even consider a mortgage on a lease with less than 70 years to run – so, and this is just a personal opinion, probably anything either below, or even approaching that crucial 70 year mark is a short lease and any property with that length of term remaining is going to be difficult to sell.

          Selling a flat with a short lease – our expert advice

          To make sure you get the best price for your property and to maximise the number of possible purchasers, you need to make sure either that;

          1. you extend your lease well above the 70 year mark in advance of putting your property on the market OR

          2. if you don’t have the cash to extend your lease extension, or you don’t want to wait for a leasehold extension to be completed,[and if you go down the safer formal route this could take up to six months or so] then you can start the process of lease extension yourself, by instructing a solicitor to issue the formal lease extension notice – and then transfer the right to extend the lease to the new purchaser. However, if you go down this second group, any sensible purchaser will look to reduce the price they going to pay you for your flat by the very least the likely cost of the lease extension, and probably a bit more on top.

          NB although it’s not directly linked to selling your flat, please do be aware that the cost of lease extension goes up significantly when the remaining term of your lease dips just one single day below 80 years. So, regardless of whether you’re looking to sell your flat, if possible make sure you extend your lease well in advance of that 80 year period – we could end up paying thousands of pounds more for your lease extension. [Want to know why? Click here to find more about marriage value and your lease extension.]

          How our specialist lease extension solicitors can help you.

          Here at Bonallack & Bishop, our leasehold team have helped around 10,000 people like you with short lease problems – extending individual leases and helping other leaseholders to buy the freehold of their block.

          With over 25 years experience our specialist 5 strong leasehold team is possibly the largest and most specialist team of its type in the country – and we handle up to 500 leasehold extension and enfranchisement cases every year for clients throughout England and Wales:

          Now is the right time to extend your short lease

          While a lease extension for your flat always makes good financial sense, now is a great time to extend your lease. Why?

          The UK housing market has been quite buoyant for some time now, which industry experts think could last for a few years. That means that the price of property generally is likely to go up and that in turn means that the cost of extending your lease will increase. So why wait for the price to go up – extend your lease today.

          What kind of conditions do mortgage companies insist on when lending on a lease extension?

          This is another issue. Quite apart from the fact that an increasing number of lenders require increasingly long remaining lease terms, other lenders adding additional requirements. Here are just a couple of your case studies that we’ve dealt with recently

          1.       Lender: Leeds Building Society      Existing Lease Term: 52 years

           The clients had owned the property since 1992 and jointly owned the freehold with the flat below since circa 2010. They hadn’t re-mortgaged for some years and when they applied to Leeds, one of the conditions was that the lease extension would take place first, or simultaneously with the re-mortgage.

          2.       Lender: Coventry Building Society         Existing Lease Term: 69 years

          The client had owned the property since 2001 and last re-mortgaged in 2006. She decided to pursue a statutory or formal lease extension claim in this case, but either way the lender required it to be extended for the re-mortgage.

          In both of these cases the existing lease lengths were relatively low and of course many lenders have different requirements.

          What minimum unexpired lease terms do mortgage lenders require?

          The Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook provides an up-to-date list of lending criteria for leasehold property for approximately 97% of  lenders in England and Wales– click here to view that list

          And here is a summary of the lending criteria for some of the biggest lenders as at according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders as at 6/2/19

          lease

          minimum unexpired lease term

          Accord Buy to Let

          		 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.
          Accord Mortgages Ltd 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.
          Adam & Company At least 30 years (calculated from the date stipulated for the repayment of the loan) unless we advise you otherwise in writing.
          Adam & Company International At least 30 years (calculated from the date stipulated for the repayment of the loan) unless we advise you otherwise in writing.
          Ahli United Bank (UK) plc 20 years (at term end)
          Aldermore Bank PLC 60 years from the date of the mortgage, subject to 40 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.

          However, where the lease is shorter than 85 years from the date of the mortgage and this is not detailed in the valuation report, you should notify us so that we can ensure that there is no adverse effect upon the valuation.
          Allied Irish Bank (GB), a trading name of AIB Group (UK) 60 years remaining at expiry of mortgage term.
          Atom Bank plc At least 80 years at the outset of the mortgage and at least 50 years remaining at the expiry of the mortgage term.
          Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd 160 years minus x
          Where x=the age of the youngest borrower
          Bank of Ireland (UK) plc Yes, subject to a minimum lease term of 85 years. The unexpired lease term must be at least the mortgage term plus 45 years. See also 5.14.9
          Bank of Ireland as Bank of Ireland Mortgages Yes, subject to a minimum lease term of 85 years. The unexpired lease term must be at least the mortgage term plus 45 years. See also 5.14.9
          Bank of Scotland Beginning A Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
          Bank of Scotland Beginning O Minimum 70 years from the date of mortgage.
          Banks and Clients Plc Refer to lender
          Barclays Bank UK PLC Mortgage term plus 25 years
          Barnsley Building Soc, a trading name Yorkshire Building Soc 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.
          Bluestone Mortgages Mortgage term plus 30 years.
          Bradford & Bingley Plc The lease must have at least 25 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
          Britannia, a trading name of The Co-operative Bank plc 70 years unexpired at application, 30 years at the end of the mortgage term
          Buckinghamshire Building Society Minimum of 35 years unexpired at the end of the mortgage term
          Capital Home Loans Must have at least 60 years unexpired term on completion, with a minimum of 35 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
          Chelsea Building Society (a trading name of Yorkshire BS) 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.
          Clydesdale Bank plc Mortgage term plus 30 years.
          Co-operative Bank plc 70 years unexpired at application, 30 years at the end of the mortgage term
          Coutts At least 30 years (calculated from the date stipulated for the repayment of the loan) unless we advise you otherwise in writing.
          Coutts Finance Co At least 30 years (calculated from the date stipulated for the repayment of the mortgage) unless we advise you otherwise in writing.
          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.
          Cynergy Bank Not less than 75 years at drawdown of the loan or first drawdown where the loan is drawn down in stages or less than 50 years unexpired at the end of the loan.
          Darlington Building Society Minimum of 85 Years
          DB UK Bank Ltd Mortgage Term plus 40 years
          Dudley Building Society Capital and Interest basis – 85 years at draw down
          Part and Part/Interest only & less than 50% – 85 years at draw down
          Part and Part/Interest only & greater than 50% LTV – 85 years remaining at the end of the term
          Earl Shilton Building Society Mortgage Term plus 50 years
          Ecology Building Society Mortgage term plus 35 years
          Family Building Soc (a trading name of National Counties BS) A minimum of 50 years must remain at the end of the mortgage term.
          Fleet Mortgages 75 years unexpired at the commencement of the mortgage term but the unexpired term of the lease should not be less than 40 years at the scheduled end of the mortgage period
          Foundation Home Loans 50 years unexpired at the end of the mortgage term.
          Furness Building Society Minimum 85 years unexpired from completion, subject to not less than 55 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
          GE Money Home Lending Ltd GE Money Home Lending has withdrawn from the UK mortgage market.
          Godiva Mortgages Ltd 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.
          Halifax Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
          Halifax Loans Ltd Minimum 70 years from the date of mortgage.
          Hampden & Co. plc At least 30 years (calculated from the date stipulated for the repayment of the loan) unless we advise you otherwise in writing.
          Handelsbanken Mortgage term plus 50 years.
          Harpenden Building Society Mortgage term plus 40 years
          Exceptions may be considered
          Hinckley and Rugby Building Society There must be at least 85 years remaining on the lease when the mortgage starts and a minimum of 50 clear and unrestricted years remaining on the lease after the end of the mortgage term
          Holmesdale Building Society 50 years remaining on the lease after the end of the mortgage term.
          HSBC Bank plc All Residential leasehold properties must have more than 30 years remaining on the lease beyond the term of the mortgage at the outset.

          All Buy to Let leasehold properties must have more than 35 years remaining on the lease beyond the term of the mortgage at the outset.
          HSBC UK Bank plc All Residential leasehold properties must have more than 30 years remaining on the lease beyond the term of the mortgage at the outset.

          All Buy to Let leasehold properties must have more than 35 years remaining on the lease beyond the term of the mortgage at the outset.
          Intelligent Finance Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
          Investec Bank plc 80 years after expiry of the mortgage.
          ITL Mortgages 70 years unexpired terms at completion.
          JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 50 years unexpired at application, 30 years at the end of the mortgage term.
          Kensington Mortgage Company Ltd 85 years from the date of completion of the mortgage
          Kent Reliance (a trading name of OneSavings Bank plc) A minimum of 50 years must remain at the end of the mortgage term
          Keystone Property Finance 50 years unexpired at the end of the mortgage term
          Landbay 55 years unexpired at the end of the term
          Landmark Mortgages Limited The Mortgage Term plus 30 years.
          Leeds Building Society 85 years remaing from the start of the mortgage.
          Legal & General Home Finance Ltd Leasehold remaining term plus the age of the youngest borrower at completion must be at least 185 years.
          LendInvest Mortgage term plus 65 years
          Lloyds Bank plc pre fixed 20/40 Mortgage term plus 30 years subject to an overall minimum term of 70 years.
          Lloyds Bank plc pre fixed 50/30/77 Mortgage term plus 30 years subject to an overall minimum term of 70 years
          Lloyds TSB Scotland plc Mortgage term plus 30 years subject to an overall minimum term of 70 years
          M&S Bank All leasehold properties must have 30 years remaining on the lease beyond the term of the mortgage at the outset.
          Magellan Homeloans At least 55 Years at application and no less than 35 years at the end of the mortgage term.
          Manchester Building Society Mortgage Term plus 30 years.
          Market Harborough Building Society Mortgage term plus 50 years
          Masthaven Bank Mortgage term plus 75 years.
          Metro Bank plc For residential and buy to let transactions, at least 50 years at the end of the mortgage term.
          Molo Finance Buy to Let Mortgages A minimum unexpired lease term of 50 years must remain at the end of the mortgage term.
          Monmouthshire Building Society 80 years remaining on completion of the loan.
          Mortgage Agency Services 50 Year unexpired at application, 25 years at the end of the mortgage term
          Mortgage Express The lease must have at least 25 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term
          Mortgage Express No 2
          National Counties Building Society A minimum of 50 years must remain at the end of the mortgage term.
          National Westminster Bank plc Mortgage term plus 30 years. For a Lifetime Mortgage, the term must be no less than 150 years minus the age of the Borrower.
          Nationwide Building Society Our minimum unexpired lease term is 55 years subject to at least 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
          Report to the issuing office if the lease term is shorter than that stated on the offer and has less than 100 years remaining. (There is no requirement to report if the lease term is lower than that stated on the offer but still has 100 years or more to run, or if the lease term is longer than that stated on the offer).NEW BUILD PROPERTIES (includes office conversions)
          The following are not acceptable:
          – The unexpired lease term is less than 125 years on a new build flat or 250 years on a new build house (does not apply to Shared Ownership)
          – Starting ground rent is more than 0.1% of the property value
          The lease must be amended to comply with the above. If not the case cannot proceed. Please advise us where the case cannot proceed.
          Ground rents and event fees:
          Ground rent and other event fees must be reasonable at all times during the lease term. For example, it is acceptable for ground rent escalation to be linked to RPI (Retail Price Index) or a similar index and where this is the case we do not need to be advised. However, unreasonable multipliers of ground rent will not be permitted, for example, doubling every 5, 10 or 15 years. These must be referred to us and we will advise if our mortgage offer remains valid. If you are unsure as to whether the terms of a lease are unreasonable, please refer the details to us.
          Nedbank Private Wealth Ltd We require am unexpired lease term of 75 years.
          New Street Mortgages 85 years from the date of completion of the mortgage
          NRAM Ltd The mortgage terms plus 25 years.
          Paragon Buy to Let Mortgages The unexpired term of the lease must have a minimum of 85 years at the commencement of the mortgage term and a minimum unexpired lease term of 65 years must remain at the end of the mortgage term.
          Paragon Residential Owner-Occupied Mortgages The unexpired term of the lease must have a minimum of 85 years at the commencement of the mortgage term and a minimum unexpired lease term of 65 years must remain at the end of the mortgage term.
          Paratus AMC Ltd 50 years unexpired at the end of the mortgage term.
          Parity Trust Mortgage term plus 35 years
          Pepper Money The lease must have a minimum unexpired term of 85 years at the time of application.
          Platform (a trading name of The Co-operative Bank p.l.c.) 70 years unexpired at application, 30 years at the end of the mortgage term, except where the mortgage application is pursuant to Platform’s participation in the Government’s Help to Buy Shared Equity scheme, in which case (a) the unexpired lease term must not be less than 250 years for new-build houses and not less than 125 years for new-build flats and (b) ground rent must be reasonable at all times and any escalation must be linked to RPI (Retail Price Index) or a similar index.
          Precise Mortgages (Charter Court Financial Services Ltd) 70 years unexpired on the lease at completion of the loan advance.
          Principality Building Society You should notify the Society where the unexpired term of the lease is 85 years or less. The Society’s lending policy is that it requires a minimum unexpired lease term of 85 years.
          Rooftop Mortgages Ltd
          Saffron Building Society There must be a minimum of 50 years unexpired lease remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
          Sainsbury’s Bank The unexpired term should be no less than 85 years at the commencement of the mortgage term.
          Santander UK plc Our minimum unexpired lease term is 55 years from completion, subject to at least 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term (an individual case instruction may provide for a shorter unexpired term). However, you must report the unexpired lease term to us and await our instructions if:
          1. the unexpired term assumed by our valuer is between 55 and 82 years, but the actual unexpired term differs by more than one year (whether longer or shorter); or
          2. the unexpired term assumed by our valuer is more than 82 years but the actual unexpired term is less than 82 years; or
          3. no valuation report is provided
          We will accept a lease that has been extended under the provisions of the Leasehold Reform Act 1993 provided statutory compensation would be available to the leaseholder.
          Santander UK plc for Alliance & Leicester mortgages only Our minimum unexpired lease term is 55 years from completion, subject to at least 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term (an individual case instruction may provide for a shorter unexpired term). However, you must report the unexpired lease term to us and await our instructions if:
          1. the unexpired term assumed by our valuer is between 55 and 82 years, but the actual unexpired term differs by more than one year (whether longer or shorter); or
          2. the unexpired term assumed by our valuer is more than 82 years but the actual unexpired term is less than 82 years; or
          3. no valuation report is providedWe will accept a lease that has been extended under the provisions of the Leasehold Reform Act 1993 provided statutory compensation would be available to the leaseholder.
          Scottish Building Society Unexpired term of lease must be at least 50 years at end of mortgage term.
          Scottish Widows Bank Minimum of 70 years unexpired at the start of the mortgage.
          Secure Trust Bank PLC 85 years from the date of the mortgage.,
          Skipton Building Society 85 years from the date of completion of the mortgage
          St James Place Bank Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
          State Bank of India UK The unexpired term of the lease must have a minimum of 55 years at the commencement of the mortgage term and a minimum unexpired lease term of 30 years must remain at the end of the mortgage term.
          Swansea Building Society Mortgage Term plus 50 years
          Tesco Bank (a trading name of Tesco Personal Finance plc) Mortgage term plus 30 years (subject to a minimum unexpired term of 55 years). Please contact us as detailed in 1.11b should this not be the case.
          For new build properties, the following lease terms are not acceptable:
          – The unexpired lease term on a new build flat is less than 125 years
          – The unexpired lease term on a new build house is less than 250 years
          If the lease cannot be amended to comply with the above, the case cannot proceed. Please advise us immediately where the case cannot proceed.
          Contact point as detailed in 1.11b.
          The Mortgage Business Minimum 70 years from the date of the mortgage.
          The Mortgage Lender Limited For Residential (owner occupied) mortgages the unexpired term of the lease should not be less than 40 years at the scheduled end of the mortgage period.

          For Buy to Let mortgages the unexpired term of the lease should not be less than 50 years at the scheduled end of the mortgage period.
          The Mortgage Works Minimum unexpired lease term is 70 years with 30 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term. Report to the issuing office if the lease term is shorter than that stated within the Offer and has less than 100 years remaining.(There is no requirement to report if the lease term is lower than that stated on the Offer but still has 100 years or more to run, or if the lease term is longer than that stated on the Offer).

          NEW BUILD PROPERTIES (includes office conversions)
          The following are not acceptable:
          – The unexpired lease term on a new build flat is less than 125 years
          – The unexpired lease term on a new build house is less than 250 years
          – Starting ground rent is more than 0.1% of the property value
          The lease must be amended to comply with the above. If not the case cannot proceed. Please advise us where the case cannot proceed.
          Ground rents and event fees:
          Ground rent and other event fees must be reasonable at all times during the lease term. For example, it is acceptable for ground rent escalation to be linked to RPI (Retail Price Index) or a similar index and where this is the case we do not need to be advised. However, unreasonable multipliers of ground rent will not be permitted, for example, doubling every 5, 10 or 15 years. These must be referred to us and we will advise if our mortgage offer remains valid. If you are unsure as to whether the terms of a lease are unreasonable, please refer the details to us.
          The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Mortgage term plus 30 years. For a Lifetime Mortgage, the term must be no less than 150 years minus the age of the Borrower.
          The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Direct Line Mortgages Mortgage term plus 30 years and sixty years remaining at drawdown.
          The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Direct Line One Mortgage term plus 30 years.
          The Royal Bank of Scotland plc First Active Mortgage term plus 30 years.
          The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Natwest one Account Mortgage term plus 30 years.
          The Royal Bank of Scotland plc One Account Mortgage term plus 30 years.
          The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Virgin One Mortgage term plus 30 years.
          The Tipton & Coseley Building Society Mortgage term plus 60 years with a minimum of 85 years outstanding at completion.
          Topaz Finance Ltd Mortgage term plus 35 years.
          TSB Bank plc Mortgage term plus 30 years subject to an overall minimum term of 70 years
          Ulster Bank Ltd Mortgage term plus 30 years.
          Vida Homeloans For capital and interest mortgages there should be 40 years of the lease remaining at the end of the mortgage term. For interest only or part interest only there should be 70 years of the lease remaining at the end of the mortgage term.
          Virgin Money plc 85 years at the time of completion. If it’s less, we require it to be extended on or before completion.
          Whistletree (a trading name of TSB Bank plc) The mortgage term plus 30 years
          Yorkshire Bank Home Loans Ltd Mortgage term plus 30 years.
          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.
          Zephyr Mortgages For Zephyr: the requirement is for a minimum unexpired lease term of 70 years remaining at the end of the mortgage term.

          You must refer to Zephyr if onerous obligations are determined.

          Extending your short lease – contact our specialists now

          if you’re thinking about a UK lease extension, make sure you instruct a specialist solicitor to help you because the legal process involved is complex. Our lease extensions team concentrate on lease extension and enfranchisement only – so we have the specialist expertise you need. So, for FREE initial phone legal advice:

          • Call our specialists now on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 or
          • Send us an email via the contact form below.

            Bournemouth Lease Extension Solicitors

            Posted on by

            SPECIALISTS IN EXTENDING LEASES

            Bournemouth has one of the largest number of leasehold flats in the country – which is Bournemouth lease extension solicitors. Image of local block of flatshardly surprising, given that it is one of the UK’s most beautiful seaside resorts [now with its own premiership football team in AFC Bournemouth!], Bournemouth is a popular place for people to want to live and According to the latest 10 year census in 2021, the town has a population of 196,445 . As a result, prices have been pushed higher in recent years, making it difficult for young families and couples looking to get onto the property ladder.

            With renting not an ideal long-term solution, many people are turning to leasehold flats as a way of effectively owning their own property without the enormous costs associated with a freehold arrangement. After all, the market price of a freehold property is generally much more expensive than a leasehold deal, which still enables you to own your own home. Owning a leasehold flat does have their downsides, but in an area like Bournemouth they’re ideal for getting that first foot on the housing ladder

            But if you own a long leasehold flat in Bournemouth, or indeed anywhere else, then at some stage, that lease will need to be extended, unless you want to lose the ownership of your property and become a renting tenant.

            Want to know more about Lease Extension? Call our specialist solicitors on [01202] 834450 or free on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for FREE initial phone advice – with no strings attached.

            DO I NEED A BOURNEMOUTH LEASE EXTENSION SPECIALIST?

            o Extending your lease can prove tricky– there are critical deadlines which can be easy to miss, and The legislation governing lease extensions is particularly hard to interpret

            o It’s highly likely that your landlord will appoint their own specialist lease extension solicitor

            o Sadly, many landlords simply don’t cooperate when it comes to extending your lease. They might simply try to turn down your request for lease extension or haggle unnecessarily over the price [watch out – this is a particular trick played by far too many landlords when your lease is approaching the critical 80 year term]. Whilst many are perfectly reasonable, if you’re stuck with an awkward landlord, a specialist solicitor can prove essential. They can negotiate a fair price for your lease extension – but if your landlord simply refused to cooperate, they will have the expertise to help you with an application to the First Tier Property Tribunal

            o Your Bournemouth lease extension solicitor can help you gather all the necessary information for your, lease extension, help in appointing the right t surveyor value your lease extension, draft all the necessary legal documents and sort out all post-completion matters

            IDENTIFYING YOUR LEASE EXTENSION SPECIALIST

            Only a handful of law firms specialise in lease extension. Most property solicitors will, at most, only have handled the odd lease extension in their career – and in our experience, sadly they often don’t know what they’re doing.

            Here at Bonallack & Bishop, we have all the leasehold extension expertise you need. We have a team of three dedicated  UK lease extension specialists with a history of helping thousands of to extend their lease over the last 25 years.

            We are also members of ALEP- the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners, the only national organisation of specialist lease extension surveyors and solicitors.

            But you don’t need to take our word for it – here is a testimonial from a Poole based surveyor who specialises in lease extensions.

            “ I have worked alongside [Bonallack and Bishop] on numerous lease extensions and have been impressed by [their] efficiency, regular communication and knowledge of the subject.”

            Stephen Higley, Smith Robinson Higley Ltd, Chartered Surveyors, Poole

            MAKE SURE YOU EXTEND YOUR LEASE BEFORE THE TERM FLAT DROPS BELOW 80 YEARS

            The bad news is, if you have  bought a flat with a short lease, or the lease is still relatively long but has just dipped below 80 years, you’re going to have to pay the freeholder more to extend it. Why?

            That’s very simple.

            As soon as any lease dips below 80 years – even by just one day, the landlord is entitled to charge you an additional premium for extending your lease – and this premium is known as the “marriage value”.

            So, if your lease has just over 80 years to run, don’t mess around – get your lease extension as soon as possible. Even if you can’t afford a full 90-year extension, it’s very worth getting a short extension – to keep your options open, and to keep your lease above the magic 80 year figure.

            Remember – however many years your lease has to run, extending the term of that lease is going to cost you more, the longer you leave it

            NOT JUST EXTENDING LEASES

            Our specialist Leasehold team represent leaseholders, freeholders, property management companies, landlords and residents associations, providing jargon-free legal services and practical legal advice.and we don’t just extend leases – we also deal with the following specialist leasehold work:

            • Claims for Collective Enfranchisement (also known as Freehold or Leasehold Enfranchisement)
            • Forming a right to manage company
            • License to alter
            • New leases
            • Leasehold disputes – including ground rent and service charge arrears

            THINKING OF A LEASE EXTENSION BOURNEMOUTH? CALL 01202 834450 TODAY

            We run most of our leasehold extensions cases without needing to see you – taking by e-mail, phone and video call – though we are equally happy if you want to come into the office to see us.

            We can give you a quote for your lease extension and answer your initial queries by email – or we can arrange to ring you back at a time convenient to you, if you prefer.

            So for FREE initial phone advice about your lease extension, get in touch with our team by

            • Complete the email contact form below,
            • Or call us now on [01202] 834450 or free  on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544

              Sheffield Lease Extension Solicitors

              Posted on by

              Sheffield , once a comparatively run-down former mining area and heavy industrial hub, has boomed in recent years to become a metropolitan hub of culture, industry and total regeneration.

              This former steel city has seen its gross value added (GVA) grow by 60% since 1997, adding £9.2 billion into the British economy just ten years later in 2007. Its economy is growing at a rate of 5% a year, which is more than the whole of the Yorkshire and Humber region. It’s easy to see, then, why so many people are flocking to live in Sheffield.

              With freehold properties being at a premium due to the successful regeneration, many people are opting to buy a leasehold flat.

              If you own the leasehold on a flat, the chances are that you need to renew your lease or will need to do so soon. If you live in Sheffield and are looking to start the lease extension process, our dedicated team of experts would be happy to help.

              Thinking about extending your lease? Got a question? Call our expert lawyers on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for FREE initial phone advice – with no strings attached.

              LEASE EXTENSION – THE IMPORTANCE OF INSTRUCTING AN EXPERT

              The importance of instructing a specialist lease extension solicitor to manage the lease extension process is often underestimated. Some of the reasons for instructing an expert are listed below:

              • Experts will understand the complicated legal terminology involved in lease extensions and the importance of meeting the strict deadlines involved

              • Your landlord is likely to instruct their own specialist solicitor so you owe it to yourself to get one as well

              • Our expert solicitors have the negotiating skills you need, and a panel of specialist local surveyors, which you are going to need for a proper valuation of the premium to be paid to your freeholder

              • If your landlord attempts to stall negotiations so that the extension costs you more, an expert solicitor will be able to help you apply to  the First-Tier Property Tribunal (previously known as Leasehold Valuation Tribunal).

              WHY WE’RE THE RIGHT CHOICE

              Finding genuine leasehold extension specialists is very difficult. Many solicitors believe that they have the expertise needed to do residential lease extension work only realising how difficult it is when it’s too late. And we are members of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners. So for lease extension solicitors you can trust, call our experts.

              FOR YOUR LEASE EXTENSION IN SHEFFIELD – GET IN TOUCH WITH US TODAY

              When it comes to extending your lease, our expert team can help you wherever your flat is in England and Wales and we don’t even need to see you – taking your instructions by e-mail, phone and Zoom video:

              • Just call us on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for a FREE initial phone consultation and a FREE quote for your lease extension, OR
              • Complete the email contact form below

                Nottingham Lease Extension Solicitors

                Posted on by

                Do you live in Nottingham? Do you own a leasehold flat? If so, the chances are that you Nottingham Lease Extension Solicitorswill need to think about a lease extension very soon

                Many people are either unaware of the importance of extending their lease or delay extending it for so long that the price of doing so shoots up dramatically. Don’t make the same mistake, start the renewal process today.

                NOTTINGHAM – THE SIZE OF THE LEASEHOLD MARKET

                The city of Nottingham was estimated to be home to 310,837 people in 2013, with the population of the wider Nottingham area estimated at 729,977. As the largest urban area in the East Midlands (and the second largest in the Midlands), there are more long leasehold flats and apartments in Nottingham than in most towns or cities for many miles. In fact, if you count the population of the entire Nottingham/Derby metropolitan area combined, the population shoots up to more than 1.5 million, with the area having the seventh largest metropolitan economy in the United Kingdom.

                As a university city and an area which has a lower employment figure and a higher than average proportion of disabled people who are out of work, Nottingham has seen the proportion of home owners drop significantly over the last fifteen years, with an increase in rented and leased properties. It should come as no surprise, then, that fifteen years on lease extension is a hot topic in the city of Nottingham.

                Thinking about extending your lease? Got a question? Call our experienced lawyers now on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for FREE initial phone advice – with no strings attached.

                LEASE EXTENSION SOLICITORS – MAKE YOURS AN EXPERT

                People are often tempted to try and conduct the leasehold extension process themselves but this is a dangerous game. Lease extension law and procedure is difficult to understand and in order to extend your lease you must meet specific deadlines and draft certain documents. Furthermore, your landlord is likely to instruct a specialist leasehold extension solicitor so you want to make sure that you are on a level playing field.

                Whilst most landlords are very agreeable you may find yourself in a position where your landlord is delaying negotiations so that your lease runs below the critical 80 year level, thus costing you more to renew. A  lease extension specialist will be able to spot such underhand tactics and if necessary will be able to take your case to a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

                YOUR LEASE EXTENSION – OUR EXPERTS CAN HELP

                Our solicitors can help in a number of ways. We have contacts with surveyors who will value your lease. We can also manage the timetable for your extension and draft all of the complex legal documents required.

                We have a dedicated team of 5  lease extension specialists rather than generalist property lawyers trying their hand at lease extensions and are members of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners.

                LIVE IN NOTTINGHAM? WANT TO EXTEND YOUR LEASE?  DON’T DELAY – CONTACT US TODAY

                We do not need to be able to see our clients in Nottingham in person in order to conduct their lease extensions. Telephone, email or Zoom video is all we need in order to run your formal or voluntary lease extension from start to finish. In fact we now handle around 500 lease extensions every year, for clients throughout England and Wales, most of whom we never meet.

                Our team are leasehold extensions experts – so for FREE initial advice on getting a leasehold extension that you can rely on, along with an estimate of the likely costs of extending your lease, please contact us today;

                • Call us for free now on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544, or
                • Send us an email using the contact form below.

                  Brighton Lease Extension Solicitors

                  Posted on by

                  Procrastinating over your lease extension is simply not an option. The costs you incur as a result can be enormous so it is crucial that you instruct a specialist, Brighton lease extension solicitor. If you live in Brighton, our team of experts can help.

                  Thinking about extending your lease? Got a question? Call our specialist solicitors on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for FREE initial phone advice – with no strings attached.

                  WHY YOU NEED A BRIGHTON LEASE EXTENSION SPECIALIST

                  Many property lawyers try their hand at extending a lease only once in a blue moon and unfortunately, they often fail to achieve the best outcome for their clients. In order to get the fairest deal for your lease extension you will need a specialist lease extension solicitor like those at our firm. Our solicitors can help you by:

                  • Bringing together all the information needed for your leasehold extension

                  • Finding a respected surveyor to value your lease extension

                  • Drafting documents which will be legally recognised

                  • Deal with any issues arising immediately after completion

                  • Negotiating with (often awkward) landlords in order to reach a fair price for your lease extension

                  • Helping with applications to the First Tier Property Tribunal in instances where landlords refuse to co-operate, deliberately stall or agreements cannot be reached.

                  BONALLACK & BISHOP – BRIGHTON LEASE EXTENSION EXPERTS

                  Our leasehold extension team is formed of 3 expert lease extension solicitors with a history of helping clients nationwide with their lease extensions spanning 25 years.

                  Unlike many property solicitors who claim to be able to do lease extension work, our solicitors are recognised specialists. And we are members of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners.

                  But don’t just take our word for it – here is a testimonial from a Hove based specialist lease extension and enfranchisement surveyor, whose business has undertaken over 1500 valuations for lessees and freeholders alike.

                  “As one of the leading and longest established firm of chartered surveyors specialising in leasehold reform, we have worked with Bonallack and Bishop on many occasions. The process is complex and a procedural minefield. Bonallack and Bishop certainly know the ropes and we have always found them knowledgeable and efficient and a joy to deal with”.

                  Andrew Pridell, Andrew Pridell Associates Ltd – specialist Lease Extension Chartered Surveyor and Valuer, Hove

                  BRIGHTON LEASE EXTENSION – CONTACT OUR SPECIALISTS TODAY

                  Whilst some of our clients like to come and visit us in office, this really is not necessary. In fact for the vast majority of lease extensions we are able to carry out all communication with clients through phone, email or Zoom video.

                  Get in touch with us today and we will be able to give you a quote for how much your UK lease extension may cost or arrange a consultation with you to discuss your situation in depth.

                  So for FREE initial phone advice about your lease extension,

                  • Complete the email contact form below,
                  • Or call us now free on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544

                    Birmingham Lease Extension Solicitors

                    Posted on by

                    Birmingham‘s population is now [according to figures released in 2014 by Birmingham City Council] over 1.1 million people.Birmingham Lease Extension solicitors. Logo of Association of leasehold enfranchisement practitioners

                    And there are probably over 100,000 privately owned flats and apartments – the 2011 Census confirmed that Birmingham contained 86,595 purpose built flats – and that’s before you even start to count up the many thousands of houses  converted into flats over the years.

                    So with so many leasehold flats in Birmingham, you won’t be at all surprised to hear that it’s a popular area for lease extensions.

                    However, some people in Britain’s second city will put off extending their lease only to discover that they face far greater expense when they eventually get round to doing so.

                    Here at Bonallack & Bishop, our specialist solicitors can make sure that you you get a fair deal for your lease extension.

                    Got a lease extension question? Call our specialist solicitors on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for FREE initial phone advice – with no strings attached.

                    THE ROLE OF A SPECIALIST LEASE EXTENSION SOLICITOR

                    Specialist lease extension solicitors, like ours, recognise the complexity of both the law and procedure surrounding lease extensions. You need to keep a really close eye on various deadlines – and the process generally is full of pitfalls for those who don’t know what they doing.

                    Bearing in mind that your landlord is likely to know a good lease extension solicitor it is advisable that you instruct a specialist yourself in order to put yourself in the best position possible. Your solicitors negotiating skills and ability to collect evidence will be central to getting a fair deal. It is also important that they know good surveyors who can value your lease fairly.

                    Many unscrupulous landlords will attempt to hold up the negation process for so long (or simply refuse to cooperate at all) so that your lease runs down to the 80 year mark and therefore becomes far more expensive to extent. Our solicitors can spot these tricks and if you landlord is being devious or simply difficult, can take the necessary action and if necessary will be able to help you to apply to the First Property Tribunal [previously known and still often referred to as the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal or LVT].

                    BONALLACK & BISHOP – BIRMINGHAM LEASE EXTENSION EXPERTS

                    There are very few firms in England and Wales who specialise in leasehold extension.

                    Around 10,000 firms don’t . But we do. And we estimate that in 2018, our team will probably help another 350 leaseholders with their lease extensions.

                    Our firm comprises a lease extension team made up of highly experienced specialists who have helped thousands of clients around the country over the last 35 years. Unlike other property solicitors who do the occasional UK lease extension, our solicitors deal with them all the time – that means they have the expertise you are going to need.

                    We are members of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners.

                    But you don’t just need to take our word for it. Here is a testimonial for our team from one of the country’s most highly regarded lease extension surveyors

                    “As one of the leading and longest established firm of chartered surveyors specialising in leasehold reform, we have worked with Bonallack and Bishop on many occasions. The process is complex and a procedural minefield. Bonallack and Bishop certainly know the ropes and we have always found them knowledgeable and efficient and a joy to deal with”.

                    Andrew Pridell, Andrew Pridell Associates Ltd – specialist Lease Extension Chartered Surveyor and Valuer, Hove

                    Click here if you want to see some more testimonials for the team.

                    CONSIDERING A LEASE EXTENSION IN BIRMINGHAM? CONTACT US TODAY

                    Don’t leave it too long to extend your lease. Get in touch with our specialist solicitors to start the process. Whether you wish to stay in contact via telephone, email or Skype, we are happy to help.

                    • Just call us on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for a FREE initial phone consultation and a FREE quote for your lease extension, OR
                    • Complete the email contact form below