Hammersmith and Fulham Lease Extensions

Living in Hammersmith and Fulham:

The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham has a population of 183,200, according to 2021 Census Data.

The area is known for its charming historic terrace townhouses, detached homes and new apartments, creating a vibrant and predominantly residential community.

Despite the amount of housing, this central borough comprises more than 19% green space and features a two-mile stretch of the Thames, which flows under the iconic Hammersmith Bridge.

For Hammersmith and Fulham residents seeking a lease extension, look no further than The Lease Extension Company. We are keen to help you through the procedure and negotiate the best premium possible.

• Housing: Statistics from Rightmove state that the majority of sales in the borough last year were flats, selling for around £895,000 on average.
• Districts in Hammersmith and Fulham: Brook Green, Chelsea Harbour, College Park, East Acton, Fulham, Hammersmith, Old Oak Common, Parsons Green, Sands End, Shepherd’s Bush, Walham Green, West Kensington.
• Transportation: The area is well connected with an excellent bus, overground and underground service. This is no surprise, considering that the Hammersmith and City Line was the first underground line in London and the entire world!
• Local Authority: The local authority for Hammersmith and Fulham is Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

Lease Extension Regulations in Hammersmith and Fulham

Your lease runs for a limited time, in most cases 125 years, before returning to the freeholder. However, leaseholders have a statutory right to extend their lease by an additional 90 years, and this procedure can be carried out formally or informally.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council own the freehold of many properties in the borough, and their ‘Leaseholder after sales‘ webpage indicates that they operate on an informal basis.

This procedure means that leaseholders can extend their lease without serving a formal notice under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. To be eligible, you must have held your lease for at least two years and have not broken any terms.

Suppose the council only has a lease on the building. In that case, you must adhere to the formal statutory requirements and serve a Section 42 notice to your freeholder under the Leasehold Reform, Housing, and Urban Development Act 1993.

Regardless of your situation, independent legal advice is strongly recommended to make an accurate valuation, review the lease terms, assist with the relevant documents and ensure your lease extension runs smoothly.

The Lease Extension Company has a history of handling formal and informal procedures, as recorded in our excellent case studies. You will be in safe hands with our legal knowledge and practical experience.

The Lease Extension Process

See below for a step-by-step overview of the statutory lease extension process.

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

If you would like further information, please read through our helpful ‘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 undertake the valuation of 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 certain key legal information. This is a technical legal notice, and it’s imperative that it’s 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 niche 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. Learn more about freeholders in the Hammersmith and Fulham area below.

Key Freeholders in Hammersmith and Fulham:

The most prominent freeholder in Hammersmith and Fulham is Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

However, many housing associations also manage homes in the borough, including A2Dominion, L&Q and One Housing. You can find the complete list on the council’s ‘How to contact a local housing association’ webpage.

Each association will have a different preference for how to carry out a lease extension, so we advise residents to speak with their landlord directly to find their preferred method of action.

Other freeholders you have the option of contacting are E&M Limited and Freshwater.

Finding your Freeholder

To pinpoint the name and address of your freeholder, refer to your original lease agreement.

If you can’t locate your lease document, you can receive a copy from the HM Land Registry for a fee or, as a LEC client, we will do this for you at the start of the process.

How Much Will Your Lease Extension Cost?

The costs associated with each procedure may differ; however, they are largely based on the following factors:

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

Costs can also depend on your path to attaining 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.

To estimate your premium, please take advantage of our Lease Extension Calculator, which will give you a general idea of your costs.

About Our Fixed Fee Service

The Lease Extension Company is revolutionising the standard lease extension process by making it as straightforward as possible.

We will develop a detailed plan that covers all stages, legal requirements, and your expected costs which are consolidated into a straightforward fixed fee. With a pre-determined fixed fee, there are no surprises or hidden charges, giving you peace of mind throughout the process.

You’ll also receive the professional guidance of an experienced surveyor and solicitor familiar with this challenging area of property law, ensuring you do not pay more than necessary for your premium.

Begin Your Lease Extension in Hammersmith and Fulham

To get the ball rolling with your lease extension, get a quote or arrange a free consultation with The Lease Extension Company.

Simply complete our convenient online form, call us on 0800 098 2770 or email [email protected].