Slough Lease Extensions

Living in Slough:

Slough is a town and unitary authority in Berkshire, west of Greater London. Archaeological excavations have revealed the area’s prehistoric roots. Discoveries include Mesolithic finds, Neolithic pits, a Bronze Age cemetery and Roman sites. With such a rich history, it’s no surprise that Slough boasts 96 listed buildings!

When it comes to housing, Slough has an array of properties. The area underwent a series of air raids during the Second World War, leading to the development of numerous post-war housing projects. Many of these houses continue to stand, coexisting with redevelopment initiatives and new apartment blocks in the area.

If you are a resident in Slough and your property requires a lease extension, explore this comprehensive location guide to access information tailored to your area.

• Population of Slough: Between the last two ONS censuses (taken in 2011 and 2021), the population of Slough increased by 13.0%, from just over 140,200 in 2011 to around 158,500 in 2021.
• Average House Prices in Slough: According to Rightmove data, properties in Slough had an overall average price of £438,830 over the last year.
• Suburbs in Slough: Britwell, Chalvey, Cippenham, Ditton, Huntercombe, Langley, Poyle, Salt Hill, Upton, Wexham.
• Local Authority: The local authority of Slough is the Slough Borough Council.

Lease Extensions in Slough:

Leaseholders have a statutory right to extend their leases by an additional 90 years. This procedure can be carried out by following the informal (voluntary) route or the formal (statutory) route.

Slough Borough Council has a dedicated ‘Leaseholders’ section on their website; however, it does not disclose the procedure they prefer leaseholders to take. At The LEC, we advise leaseholders to take the statutory route as it gives significant protection under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993.

We will provide you with support from skilled surveyors and experienced solicitors to handle the legal work, negotiate the most affordable premiums, and secure the fairest terms for your property. Explore our collection of case studies to review our past client achievements.

The Lease Extension Process

Look below for an overview of the 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 for more information about each step.

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 Slough:

The most prominent freeholder in Slough is Slough Borough Council. According to their ‘Housing Strategy 2016 to 2021’, the council owns over 7,000 tenanted and leasehold properties. Therefore, there’s a high chance the council will be your competent landlord.

The council also provides ‘low-cost home ownership’ opportunities to assist residents in entering the housing market. This includes housing associations and shared ownership options with Registered Providers like A2 Dominion, Peabody, and Home Group. You can find a complete list of these organisations on the ‘Housing Associations’ section of the Council’s website. One of these providers may be your competent landlord.

Please be aware that shared ownership leaseholders must ‘staircase’ up to 100% ownership to qualify for the statutory right to extend their lease.

Finding Your Freeholder:

Your freeholder’s details are recorded in your original lease document. If you do not have this document, you can request a copy from the HM Land Registry for a small fee. You can also request a copy from Slough Borough Council by emailing [email protected]. As a LEC client, we can help to 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 individual factors, including the following:

• 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 still curious about your expenses, use our Lease Extension Calculator to estimate your premium.

The Lease Extension Company’s Fixed Fee Service

At The LEC, we aim to take a simple, fuss-free approach to this complex area of property law. We’ll develop a detailed plan covering all stages, legal requirements and expected costs. All expenses are combined into one fixed fee for ease.

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

Extend Your Lease in Slough Today.

Work with The Lease Extension Company to achieve a smooth and efficient lease extension in Slough. With our legal expertise and local knowledge of your area, we can deliver the fairest premium and lease extension for your property.

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].