Lease Extension Solicitors for Brighton

Life in Brighton:

Brighton is one of the UK’s most popular coastal cities, known for its vibrant seafront, independent businesses, historic architecture and thriving cultural scene. From Regency townhouses overlooking the sea to modern apartment developments in the city centre, Brighton offers a diverse range of leasehold properties.

The housing market is particularly attractive to professionals, families and investors seeking proximity to London while enjoying a relaxed coastal lifestyle. As demand for property remains strong, protecting the value of your leasehold home is increasingly important.

If you’re a leaseholder in Brighton, you may find yourself considering a lease extension. Understanding the process and your legal rights can help you secure your property’s future value and improve mortgageability.

Key Facts About Brighton

•  Population of Brighton and Hove: Approximately 278,000 residents.
•  Average House Price in Brighton: Around £450,000.
•  Neighbourhoods in Brighton: Hove, Kemptown, Seven Dials, Hanover, Preston Park, Brunswick, Rottingdean, Patcham, Hollingbury, Withdean, Portslade, Saltdean, Westdene, Coldean, Bevendean and the City Centre.
•  Local Authority: Brighton & Hove City Council.

Lease Extension in Brighton

Brighton leaseholders have a statutory right to extend their leases by an additional 90 years. This process can be completed through either the informal (voluntary) route or the formal (statutory) route.

Brighton & Hove City Council provides information for leaseholders, however the statutory route generally provides greater protection for qualifying leaseholders who have owned their property for at least two years. This route is governed by the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993.

Obtaining a lease extension is a specialist legal process. When you work with The Lease Extension Company, you’ll benefit from the support of experienced surveyors and specialist solicitors who negotiate the best possible premium and terms on your behalf.

The Lease Extension Process

Look below for an overview of a statutory lease extension procedure.

• Eligibility Check
• Valuation
• Serving the Section 42 Notice
• Receipt of the Section 45 Counter Offer
• Negotiation
• Agreement of Terms
• Registration of your new lease

For further details, please visit our ‘How Long Will My Lease Take?’ article.

Serving the Section 42 Tenant’s Notice

Before your Section 42 notice is drafted, one of our firms of specialist chartered surveyors will value your property for the purpose of the lease extension and identify the likely ‘premium’ (the price of your lease extension) you will pay your freeholder.

Identifying Your Competent Landlord

Our specialist solicitors will also identify the ‘competent landlord’ whose interest in the property is long enough to grant your 90-year lease extension.

Sometimes, this will be the direct landlord or housing management to whom you pay your service charge or ground rent. However, the competent landlord is often the freeholder of the building.

The Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 requires leaseholders to serve a Tenant’s Notice (Section 42 notice) on the ‘competent landlord’.

The Section 42 notice commences the lease extension and must include specific legal information. This is a technical legal notice, and it must be correctly drafted and validated to ensure your lease extension is deemed valid.

At The Lease Extension Company, we work with specialist legal firms in this specific area of law, ensuring that your notice is drafted and reviewed by leading experts in this field. The Section 42 notice will be sent to you for approval before it is forwarded to the solicitors, who will serve the notice to the Freeholder on your behalf.

Key Freeholders in Brighton:

In Brighton, many leasehold properties are owned by private freeholders and investment companies due to the city’s large number of converted Regency and Victorian buildings.

Brighton & Hove City Council owns a number of leasehold properties across the city and may act as the competent landlord in some cases.

Housing associations operating locally include organisations such as Hyde Housing, Southern Housing and Clarion Housing.

Brighton’s leasehold market also contains a significant number of resident management companies and share-of-freehold arrangements, particularly throughout Hove, Brunswick Town, Kemptown and central Brighton.

Please be aware that shared ownership leaseholders will only qualify for the statutory right to extend their lease if they have ‘staircased’ up to 100% ownership.

Finding Your Freeholder:

Your freeholder’s contact information is detailed in your original lease document. If you do not have your document, you can request a copy from the HM Land Registry for a small fee. As a client of the LEC, we can arrange this on your behalf.

How Much Will Your Lease Extension Cost?

Lease extension premiums vary from property to property because they are based on the following factors:

• The value of your property.
• The amount of ground rent and how much it increases over time.
• The number of years remaining on your lease.

Costs can also depend on the route to obtain your lease extension.

• Informal Lease Extensions: Costs are determined and agreed upon directly with your freeholder.
• Statutory Lease Extensions: You are responsible for the valuation and legal costs of both you and your freeholder, plus the premium for the additional years on your lease.

If you’re curious about your expenses, use our handy Lease Extension Calculator to estimate your premium.

About The Lease Extension Company’s Fixed Fee Service

At The Lease Extension Company, we take a straightforward approach to this complex area of property law. We’ll develop a detailed plan covering all stages, legal requirements and expected costs, which we combine into one simple fixed fee so you know what to expect from the onset.

You’ll also receive the guidance of an experienced surveyor and solicitor to ensure you’re not paying a penny more for your premium than necessary.

Begin Your Brighton Lease Extension Today.

If you’d like to get the ball rolling, please speak with The Lease Extension Company to discuss your circumstances.

Get a quote or arrange a free consultation with our team by filling out our handy online form, calling us on 0800 098 2770 or emailing [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!