Protecting Your Property’s Value Through Lease Extension
A short lease can significantly reduce the value of your property and make it harder to sell or remortgage. Gurve Legal is a London-based commercial law firm advising leaseholders, freeholders and property investors on lease extensions, whether through the statutory route or direct negotiation.
Acting early protects your investment. Our solicitors combine rigorous legal knowledge with practical, commercial advice, so you get the right outcome rather than just the right process.
Leasehold reform has changed significantly in recent years, and we advise with current knowledge of how the rules apply to your situation today.
Our Lease Extension Services
Statutory Lease Extension
Qualifying leaseholders have a statutory right to extend their lease and reduce ground rent to a peppercorn. We handle the full process, from serving a valid Section 42 Notice through to registering the extended lease at HM Land Registry.
- Eligibility and timing advice
- Preparing and serving the Section 42 Notice
- Negotiating the premium with the freeholder’s surveyor
- Responding to the Counter-Notice and Tribunal representation if needed
Voluntary (Informal) Lease Extension
Not every extension requires the formal statutory route. We advise on informal negotiations with freeholders where this may be faster or more cost-effective, including drafting and reviewing the deed of variation.
Freeholder Advice
We also act for freeholders facing lease extension claims, advising on Counter-Notice strategy, premium negotiation, and Tribunal representation where terms cannot be agreed.
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024
The Act is being introduced in stages and is already changing key aspects of leasehold law, including removing the previous two-year ownership requirement before a leaseholder can claim a statutory extension. We advise on how the current and upcoming changes affect your position, including planned changes to lease terms and ground rent.
Lease Extension for Property Transactions
If a short lease is holding up a sale or purchase, we work alongside our high value property conveyancing team to resolve lease extension issues as part of the transaction, minimising delays.
Collective Enfranchisement Alternative
Where multiple leaseholders in a building want to address ground rent and lease length together, collective enfranchisement may be a more efficient route than individual extensions. We advise on which approach suits your circumstances.
Why Choose Gurve Legal
Prompt, Partner-Led Advice
You speak with experienced solicitors, not junior staff. We respond to enquiries quickly and keep you informed at every stage, particularly important given the strict statutory deadlines involved.
Commercial and Residential Expertise Combined
We advise across the full range of property matters, from commercial leases to property litigation and investment acquisitions, so we understand the wider implications of every extension.
Clear Costs From the Outset
We provide transparent fee estimates before you commit, and help you understand what freeholder costs you may be required to cover under the statute.
Up to Date With Recent Reforms
Leasehold law is changing significantly under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. We advise with current knowledge of what has already taken effect and what remains to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have owned my flat for two years to extend the lease?
No, this requirement was removed. You can now claim a statutory lease extension from the date you become the registered owner.
What does a Section 42 Notice do?
It formally starts the statutory lease extension process, notifying the freeholder of your claim and setting the legal timetable for their response.
Can my freeholder refuse to extend my lease?
Provided you qualify and the notice is served correctly, the freeholder generally cannot refuse the extension itself, though they can dispute the terms, particularly the premium.
Is ground rent reduced to zero after a statutory extension?
Yes. Under the current statutory route, ground rent is reduced to a peppercorn, meaning effectively zero, for the extended term.
Should I wait for further leasehold reforms before extending?
It depends on your circumstances and how urgently you need to sell or remortgage. We can advise on the trade-offs given where the reforms currently stand.
Contact Our Lease Extension Solicitors
Whether you are a leaseholder looking to extend, or a freeholder responding to a claim, our property team is ready to advise you. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.