• Lease Length

    By Guest on 22nd Jan 2025

    when buying should a solicitor inform you if the lease is under 80 years on a long leasehold property

  • 2 Answers

    By Guest on 23/01/2025

    An experienced solicitor should be able to advise on this especially when advising on route of title.
    I had a case where a property was advertised at freehold at the estate agent and my client wanted freehold. I spotted it once I got the office copy entry.

  • By Guest on 23/01/2025

    Hi Thanks, my issue is a solicitor has facilitated a cash purchase with an inexperienced buyer for an apartment with just 76 years left on the lease and failed to inform them of the potential problems buying a lease with less than 85 years might have as per below.

    1. Leasehold Extension: Once a lease has under 80 years left, it can be more expensive to extend, as the cost increases significantly due to something called “marriage value” (the difference in value between the property with a short lease and the same property with a longer lease). Your solicitor should advise you on the implications of this and whether negotiating a lease extension with the seller is possible.

    2. Mortgage Issues: Many lenders are reluctant to offer mortgages on properties with a lease under 80 years because of the potential difficulties in extending the lease. Your solicitor should check whether any mortgage restrictions could apply in your case.

    3. Property Value: A short lease can reduce the value of the property, and your solicitor should discuss how this might affect your investment, particularly if you plan to sell in the future.


    Can you please give me your expert opinion.

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