How do I extend the lease on my flat?
Almost all leaseholders of flats have the right to extend their lease under the 1993 Leasehold Reform Act but extending your lease can be a long and complicated process. It’s important to take good advice from a suitably qualified person.
As the remaining years on a lease decrease, so does the value of the leasehold. Accordingly, the law provides you, as a leaseholder, the statutory right to extend the lease. If the remaining lease term is below 90 years, we recommend you investigate extending your lease. Many mortgage lenders require at least 70 years or more remaining on the lease, therefore you could find your leasehold flat is difficult to sell or remortgage should the term of the lease be around 70 years or less. Furthermore, should a lease get to 80 years or below you will find that the premium payable to the landlord increases significantly, therefore you should begin to investigate extending your lease sooner rather than later.
We can assist you in obtaining a lease extension to protect the value of your property. The Leasehold reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (amended by the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002), entitles a Leaseholder (i.e. you as the property owner) the right to apply to the landlord for an extension of 90 years to the existing lease term at a peppercorn ground rent.
What is the criteria?
1. Your lease must have been granted for a term of 21 years or more (a long lease).
2. Your property must be a flat.
3. You must have owned the lease for a continuous period of two years or more.
NB: There is no need for the leaseholder to be a resident in the property (i.e. you can be a buy-to-let landlord). Your legal advisor will be able to assist with finding out whether you qualify.
It is also possible to negotiate a lease extension with the landlord outside the 1993 Act, subject to the landlord being willing to do so. However, the terms of the extended lease when negotiated privately may differ from the rights available under the 1993 Act. We are able to explain both options to you, and the benefits and disadvantages of each option, so that you can make an informed decision on the best way to proceed.
What costs are involved?
There are a number of costs involved in extending your lease:-
- You will have to pay the landlord a premium representing the cost to the landlord of extending the lease. We recommend you obtain the advice of a professional lease extension surveyor to provide guidance on valuations.
- In addition to the premium, you will incur legal fees, the administrative costs of any mortgage lender whose consent will be required, the landlord’s legal and administrative costs and Land Registry fees. There may also be stamp duty land tax payable on the premium you pay for the lease extension.
Lease extensions are a complicated area of law and we recommend you take early advice. To find out more or discuss your individual requirements in further detail please call us on 01603 610911 or email me directly at chalton-farrow@leathesprior.co.uk.
The case of the fake cases: another judgment on AI-hallucinations in litigation
The use of AI Large Language Models in litigation continues to generate headlines (and consternation from the judiciary). In 2025, it seemed that rarely a month went by without a new case on fake AI-generated case law. December was no exception, and the High Court has now issued a further warning regarding the use of AI by litigants.
Autumn Budget 2025: Agricultural Property Relief & Business Property Relief Changes
It was announced in the 2025 Budget that from 6 April 2026, changes will be made to agricultural property relief and business property relief. These changes bring APR and BPR in line with the nil-rate band rules, meaning unused allowances can be transferred to a surviving spouse or civil partner. This is a significant step towards making estate planning easier for families who own farms or businesses.
The case of the fake cases: another judgment on AI-hallucinations in litigation
The use of AI Large Language Models in litigation continues to generate headlines (and consternation from the judiciary). In 2025, it seemed that rarely a month went by without a new case on fake AI-generated case law. December was no exception, and the High Court has now issued a further warning regarding the use of AI by litigants.
Autumn Budget 2025: Agricultural Property Relief & Business Property Relief Changes
It was announced in the 2025 Budget that from 6 April 2026, changes will be made to agricultural property relief and business property relief. These changes bring APR and BPR in line with the nil-rate band rules, meaning unused allowances can be transferred to a surviving spouse or civil partner. This is a significant step towards making estate planning easier for families who own farms or businesses.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 is expected to come into force tomorrow (18 December 2025)
After an extended period of back-and-forth amendments between Parliament and the House of Lords, on 16 December 2025, the ERB finally received approval from the House of Lords, with the formality of Royal Assent due to take place tomorrow (18 December 2025). Head of LP Employment, Dan Chapman, explains...
Charity of the Month: The Matthew Project
Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting The Matthew Project as our Charity of the Month for December 2025. The Matthew Project supports young people and adults across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex to overcome issues around drugs, alcohol, and mental health, empowering them to rebuild confidence and lead fulfilling lives.
Leathes Prior’s Milan Pandit appointed President of the Norfolk & Norwich Law Society
Leathes Prior Solicitors is proud to announce that Milan Pandit, Solicitor in our Corporate & Commercial Team, has been appointed President of the Norfolk & Norwich Law Society (NNLS) for 2025/26.
Commercial Lease Renewals: A guide for Landlords & Tenants
Commercial lease renewals are a topic that every commercial landlord and business that rents commercial premises should have at the forefront of their minds. It is essential for good succession planning, though it is often neglected until the expiry of an existing lease term is looming or once the existing term has come to an end and the tenant is holding over. In this article, our newly qualified solicitor, Maggie Berry explores the process that landlords and tenants can expect when navigating this complex area of law.
Our Guidance, Your Legacy: What is a Will, and why should I make one?
Not only is a Will one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones and ensure your wishes are respected, but it also limits the likelihood of a claim/dispute following your death. To ensure your loved ones and the causes you care about benefit from your estate, a Will is essential to ensuring this happens. Find out more in this article.
Lease extensions: The essentials to getting started
Extending your lease can seem complex, but taking the right steps early can make the process much smoother. Jake Mowatt, Associate and Harry Smith, Trainee Solicitor in our Residential Property Team outlines the key essentials every leaseholder should understand prior to extending their lease.
Upcoming changes to bringing employment law claims: What these mean for you
The highly anticipated Employment Rights Bill (ERB) is set to increase the time limits in which employees can bring an employment tribunal claim. Gareth Stevens & Rose Woolterton explain what this means for employers & employees.
Service Charges in Residential Leases: FAQs
Service charges are forever a hot topic in the world of property disputes, and it remains one of the most contentious areas between freeholders and leaseholders, particularly in long residential leases. Danny Turpin, Associate, discusses frequently asked questions regarding service charges on long residential leases.
Leathes Prior winners in nine categories in the prestigious Legal 500 Future Laywer Survey
We are thrilled to announce that the firm has placed once again in the Legal 500 Future Lawyer survey as No.1 in the UK for our Social Life; a ranking we have held in the survey for seven years out of the past nine years.
Jess’s Rule – New Guidelines for GPs
A new initiative is being rolled out across GP practices across England in the hope of preventing serious illnesses being missed by GPs where patients present with the same, or deteriorating, symptoms on multiple occasions. Kimberley Nelson in our Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Team discusses new guidelines for GPs.
Leathes Prior are excited to announce that four Trainee Solicitors qualify at the firm
Leathes Prior is excited to announce that four of our amazing trainees, Eleanor Chapman, Maggie Berry, Alex Robinson, and Georgia Sartin, have successfully completed their training contracts and are now qualifying as Solicitors at the firm.
