Lease Extension Solicitors in Bristol

At Henriques Griffiths, our highly experienced Residential Property team can assist you with both voluntary and statutory lease extensions, as well as options such as lease enfranchisement. Should you find yourself in a dispute over a lease renewal, we can also offer clear, practical advice on working towards a positive solution.

We are Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accredited by the Law Society, providing assurance that we consistently meet the highest legal standards with our residential property services.

Our team provide a fast, proactive service, designed to make dealing with your lease extension as smooth and simple as possible for you. Where problems do arise, we have the expertise to find effective solutions that match your requirements as swiftly as possible.

Speak to one of our residential lease extension solicitors now by contacting your local Henriques Griffiths office in Bristol or Winterbourne, or you can use our simple enquiry form to ask a question or request a call back.

How our residential lease extension solicitors in Bristol can help you

We support clients all over England and Wales with a wide range of issues related to residential leases and lease extensions, including:

Voluntary lease extensions

This is where you simply agree voluntarily with the freeholder to extend the lease in exchange for a one-off payment. This is generally the fastest way to renew a lease as it can often be completed in a matter of weeks and usually costs less than if you need to go down the statutory lease extension route.

Our team can assist with contacting your freeholder, negotiating the terms of the lease extension and reviewing the new lease agreement to ensure there are no issues that could negatively affect you in future.

Statutory lease extensions

If you have owned a qualifying leasehold for at least two years, then you will be legally  entitled to renew your lease by a further 90 years on a flat or 50 years on a house and the terms of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993.

Our lease extension solicitors can assist with identifying your freeholder, serving a section 42 Notice to start the renewal process and what actions you need to take if the freeholder does not respond.

Lease enfranchisement

Instead of renewing your lease, you may also want to consider purchasing the freehold on your property. This is known as ‘leasehold enfranchisement’. Our team can advise you on whether you are eligible to buy your freehold and the process for doing so, then guide you through every stage of leasehold enfranchisement if this is the route you decide to pursue.

Collective enfranchisement

For blocks of flats, you will normally need to work with the leaseholders of the other flats in the building to buy the freehold together. This is known as collective enfranchisement. There are strict rules around qualifying for collective enfranchisement, so we will be happy to advise on whether you are eligible and the steps you need to take, then guide you through the process where required.

Leasehold property disputes

If you find yourself in a dispute over a lease renewal, it can be very worrying and frustrating. Your Property Disputes teams can provide clear advice on your legal positions and options, including referring the matter to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) where appropriate.

Our lease extension fees

We aim to keep the cost of extending your lease or dealing with other leasehold property matters simple and transparent. In many cases, we are able to act on a fixed fee basis, meaning your entire lease extension can be completed for a single priced agreed in advance.

To find out how much your lease extension might cost, please get in touch.

See our residential property pricing.

Lease extension FAQs

Am I entitled to a statutory lease extension?

You will have the legal right to extend your lease if you meet certain qualifying criteria. This is referred to as a statutory lease extension, as opposed to a voluntary lease extension, where the freeholder simply agrees to extend your lease.

To qualify for a statutory lease extension, the following conditions must apply:

• You have owned the lease for at least two years
• The lease was originally for a term of over 21 years
• The landlord must not be a charitable housing trust
• The property must not be for business or commercial use

Our leasehold extension experts will be happy to advise you on whether you are eligible for a statutory lease extension.

When should I renew my lease?

This will depend on the circumstances, but for most residential leasehold property you need to make sure you renew your lease before the time remaining drops below 80 years. This is because, if you renew a lease with less than 80 years remaining on it, then you will have to pay the freeholder half of the property’s ‘marriage value’ as part of the renewal.

Marriage value is how much the lease will increase in value due to the renewal, which can be a very significant amount. Having to pay this should therefore be avoided wherever possible.

How long does it take to extend a lease?

Typically, a voluntary lease renewal will take around 6-12 weeks, while a statutory renewal will take around 6-12 months. However, this will depend on the circumstances, including how easy it is to contact the freeholder, which can sometimes be an issue.

It is therefore a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to complete the renewal, especially if you are worried about crossing the marriage value threshold.

Read our blog on how to extend a lease here. 

Why choose Henriques Griffiths’ lease extensions solicitors in Bristol

Our team are highly experienced with all types of leasehold property transactions, including lease extensions. We place a strong emphasis on communication, so will ensure your queries are answered promptly by someone with the right level of expertise and that you are kept up to date on the progress of your transaction at all times.

We are accredited by the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) reflecting the high standards of our residential property services, including for leasehold property.

Henriques Griffiths is Lexcel accredited by the Law Society for our practice management and client care.

We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), providing assurance that we continually meet the highest legal and professional standards.

Contact our lease extension solicitors in Bristol today

Speak to one of our specialist lease extensions lawyers now by contacting your local Henriques Griffiths office in Bristol or Winterbourne, or you can use our simple enquiry form to ask a question or request a call back.