Letter From Camden on lease extensions

Camden Leaseholders’ Forum homepage Discussion Board Lease + Ownership Letter From Camden on lease extensions

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  • #4899
    joshnic
    Participant

      Thought I would share this response to my enquiry to Camden:

      ………..
      Thank you for your enquiry regarding extending the lease.

      We do not issue voluntary lease extensions nor give an indication as to price. You will have a statutory right to acquire a lease extension once you have held the lease for two years. You would need to appoint a solicitor to submit a formal notice under section 42 of the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. I can advise that a new lease would be for the remaining term of the existing lease plus 90 years and only upon receipt of this notice would we instruct our valuer to calculate how much the lease renewal would cost, and respond with our own counter notice.

      Further information on the lease renewal process can be obtained from an independent body called the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE)
      http://www.lease-advice.org

      The LEASE website contains lists of recommended professionals. We recommend that you appoint a solicitor and surveyor to act on your behalf as you will be liable for the landlords costs from the moment you serve a valid notice on the freeholder.

      The initial notice should be served on the following address:

      Paul Hewitt
      Leasehold Principal
      Leaseholder Services
      Housing and Adult Social Care
      Town Hall
      Judd Street
      London WC1H 9JE

      Fees associated with a Lease Extension:

      Claim investigation fee: £135
      Valuation: £450
      Legal fee: Variable

      Kind regards

      #5727
      frenchcountryside
      Participant

        I’m coming to this conversation late but my understanding is that the law is about to change and leaseholders will no longer be charged high fees for extending their leases.

        #5729
        RamsayShort
        Participant

          Are they saying that to extend a lease we have to hire a solicitor and pay for a valuation too, and they they will do their own valuation and see if they agree with our valuation – but they still have to legally extend the lease if asked?

          #5731
          PollyStringer
          Participant

            I was quoted a total of £5000 plus VAT for solicitors fees for myself and Camden. Almost as much as the lease. This sounds very high to me. I will wait to hear how new legislation affects me.

            #5734
            Stuart
            Participant

              That is correct @Frenchcountryside. If people are able to wait then they may be able to take advantage of new lease extension laws that will be coming into effect. i.e. fairer fees and potentially 990 year lease extension as standard.

              #5730
              jharris20681
              Participant

                I understand, the position today is, the council have to legally extend your lease but you legally have to follow the process below (which I have recently done myself)

                1. Appoint a solicitor to represent me and service the Section 42 notice on Camden Council.
                2. Pay £135 and £450 to Camden Council (as detailed above) so they can get there own valuation of the premium required to extend the lease
                3. Appoint a RICS surveyor to value the “premium of extending the lease” on my behalf
                4. If the surveyor for Camden Council and myself have different figures then there maybe some negotiation over the premium of extending the lease.
                5. Pay the premium lease extension.

                To be honest the online calculators such as the one below give a very accurate figure for what it is likely to cost to extend your lease. http://lease-extensions.org.uk/calculator.html

                There is a lot of talk in the media that they will reform the law so that lease extension premiums will be more reasonable however I know there are companies still actively looking to purchase freeholds for the leasehold extension premiums so Im not sure if this is likely to happen very soon. There is also the added consideration that every year you do not extend the lease the premium goes up!

                Note when lease length drops below 80 years there is a marriage fee applied to the premium which can be very significant.

                The costs are

                Council legal and valuation fee – £450 and £135
                Your own legal and valuation fee – approx. £450 and £750
                Lease extension premium – see calculator above

                #6027
                jgrunblatt
                Participant

                  When this is expected to happen? I mean the new law?

                  #6294
                  CarolynM
                  Participant

                    I just extended my lease on a 2 bed flat in Kentish Town. Premium £8k and total legal costs (mine and theirs) £3k. So £11k.
                    I used Anthony Gold solicitors/ Ian Mitchell, no complaints, all done by email, took about 6 months all told.
                    ipm@anthonygold.co.uk
                    Yes I guess you could wait for legislation but that could be several years….

                    #6295
                    Leaseholder1
                    Participant

                      Many thanks for this information. Do you mind if I ask (1) how many years you had left on your lease before renewal, (2) what were your valuers fees and who you used, (3) did Camden just charge £450 for the valuation and did they actually send somebody to inspect, (4) how much did Camden’s lawyers charge. Thank you so much for your help.

                      #6297
                      CarolynM
                      Participant

                        Rough stats. Extended lease from 90 years to 180. The lawyers organised all the surveyors etc within their fee. It was roughly £1500 to Anthony Gold and £1500 to Camden including their surveyor, who did come to the property. So I paid the lawyers all the costs including the premium (£8k) in one go. Low effort from my POV and I hope it makes the flat more saleable in future.

                        #6298
                        Leaseholder1
                        Participant

                          @CarolynM Great, this is very helpful, thanks very much.

                          #6301
                          frederickprice
                          Participant

                            I extended my lease a few years ago and, except that I used different solicitors and my flat is in Marchmont Street, my experience pretty much mirrored that of CarolynM in terms of timescale, involvement of professionals, legal costs, etc.

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