Havering Lease Extensions

Living in Havering:

Havering, located on the edge of the London metropolitan area and rural Essex countryside, is the easternmost borough in the city.

Settlements across the London Borough of Havering date as far back as the Roman period, and today, it has evolved into a highly sought-after residential area, particularly favoured by commuters heading into the city centre.

At 43 square miles, it’s also one of the largest boroughs, although more than half of Havering comprises Metropolitan Green Belt protected land. Due to this, the area maintains an impressive amount of parkland despite its urban location.

• Population: Based on the 2021 Census data, Havering’s population has increased by 10.4%, rising from 237,200 in 2011 to 262,000 in 2021. This growth rate surpasses the overall increase for England, ((6.6%), indicating that Havering is an expanding area experiencing significant population growth.
• Transportation Links: There are plenty of bus, train and road routes into London and further into Essex. Upminster and Hornchurch are connected by the London Underground, and areas such as Romford and Harold Wood are served by TFL Rail.
• Areas in Havering: Ardleigh Green, Chase Cross, Collier Row, Elm Park, Emerson Park, Gidea Park, Harold Hill, Harold Wood, Havering-atte-Bower, Havering Park, Hornchurch, North Ockendon, Rainham, Romford, Upminster.
• Local Authority: The local authority of the London Borough of Havering is Havering Council.

Lease Extension Regulations in Havering

If you own a flat in a Havering neighbourhood, you have a statutory right to extend your lease by an additional 90 years.

This procedure can be carried out formally or informally. However, the statutory (formal) route is recommended if you have owned your property for at least two years, as it offers legal protection.

Typically, councils opt for the statutory route because of its regulated procedure. This stance is the case with Havering Council.

The council advises leaseholders to pursue the formal, statutory route outlined in the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. You can find further information in section 12 of the council’s Home Ownership Information Pack.

We recommend seeking advice from our surveyors and solicitors to achieve the best results and cheapest premium. View our excellent record of case studies, including an example from a client based in Hornchurch, located within the Havering borough.

The Lease Extension Process

See below for a simple, step-by-step outline 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
• Potential Involvement of the Courts

If you would like further information, please read 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.

To learn more about freeholders in Havering, please refer to the information below.

Key Freeholders in Havering:

The most prominent freeholder in Havering is Havering Council, which provides many council leasehold properties.

The council joined Wates Residential in 2018 to form the ‘Live Havering’ partnership. Together, they have committed to building 3,500 homes across 12 estates in Havering as part of the ‘12 Sites Regeneration Programme’.

The first, New Green, is complete and features apartments available through a shared ownership plan.

Aside from council-associated properties, additional shared-ownership homes are managed by the likes of London and Quadrant (L&Q), who may act as your competent landlord.

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

Finding Your Freeholder in Havering:

The name and address of your freeholder should be listed in your original lease document.

If you cannot locate your lease, you can request a copy from the HM Land Registry for a small fee. As a LEC client, we will happily do this for you at the start of the process.

How Much Will Your Lease Extension Cost?

The cost of each procedure is different; however, lease extension premiums are typically 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 also depend on whether you extended your lease informally or formally.

• 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 help gauge your costs, we have developed a helpful Lease Extension Calculator to estimate your premium.

You can also refer to our case studies for a real-life example of a lease extension from a Hornchurch-based client. It provides valuable insights into the costs and the timescale of the procedure.

About The LEC’s Simple Fixed Fee Service

The Lease Extension Company is transforming the typical lease extension process by making it as clear and straightforward as possible for our clients.

To do this, we will develop a detailed plan covering all stages, legal requirements, and expected costs. Then, all expenses are consolidated into a transparent fixed fee, so you know what to expect from the beginning.

You’ll also receive the professional guidance of a surveyor and solicitor who will assist you through the process, ensuring you do not pay more than necessary for your premium.

Get a Quote for Your Lease Extension in Havering.

To preserve and potentially increase the value of your property, consider extending your lease with The Lease Extension Company today.

Speak with the LEC team by completing our convenient online form, calling us on 0800 098 2770 or emailing [email protected].