Islington Lease Extension Solicitors
Specialists in dealing with Islington Council and private freeholders in North London. We handle the full statutory process from valuation to completion.
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Expert Negotiation in North London
Don't overpay for your lease extension. Our expert team challenges Council valuations to secure the best possible premium for your flat.
Free Initial AdviceDealing with Islington Council
Expert advice for leaseholders in Angel, Highbury, Holloway, Clerkenwell, and Finsbury Park.
Navigating the Council Process
Extending the lease on an ex-local authority flat in Islington requires specific knowledge of how the Council operates.
Islington Council (LBI) generally manages lease extensions through their Home Ownership Services department. Like most London boroughs, they adhere strictly to the Statutory Route (Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993).
This means we must serve a formal Section 42 Notice to start the process. While this guarantees your rights, the Council's initial counter-offer is often high. They rely on their internal valuers or appointed firms who may be optimistic about the value of the freehold interest.
Case Study: Islington Negotiation
The Property: A 1-bedroom flat in a purpose-built block near Holloway Road.
The Challenge: Islington Council served a Counter-Notice requiring a premium of £7,600. Their valuer argued that the 'Ground Rent Capitalisation Rate' should be lower (which increases the cost) due to low interest rates at the time.
The Hetts Approach: We argued that the Council's chosen rate did not reflect recent First Tier Tribunal decisions for similar properties in North London. We presented comparative evidence showing that a higher rate was appropriate, significantly reducing the capitalisation cost.
The Result: The Council conceded the point rather than facing a Tribunal hearing. We agreed on a final premium of £5,500, saving our client £2,100 plus associated future costs.
What Our Service Includes
A complete package to extend your lease in Islington.
Valuation & Advice
We assess the lease length and ground rent to provide an accurate estimate before serving the Section 42 Notice on the Council.
Serving Notices
We draft and serve the Section 42 Notice on Islington Council's legal department, ensuring it is legally valid.
Negotiating with the Council
When the Council responds with a Counter-Notice, we negotiate hard to reduce the premium, just like in our case study.
Completion
We handle the new lease deed, register it with the Land Registry, and ensure your ground rent is officially reduced to a peppercorn (zero).
Fixed Fee Pricing
Transparent costs for your Islington lease extension.
Recommended for Islington
Statutory Route
The required route for dealing with the Council.
£1,750+ VAT
Enquire NowExcludes Disbursements (approx £65)
- Comprehensive valuation advice
- Serving Section 42 Notice on Council
- Negotiating the Premium
- Drafting the New Lease
- Lender coordination
- Land Registry Completion
Informal Route
Only if you have a private landlord who agrees.
£1,200+ VAT
Enquire NowExcludes Disbursements (approx £65)
- Legal work & Drafting Lease
- Lender coordination
- Land Registry Completion
- Section 42 Notice Service
- Formal Negotiation
Payment Timeline
To start your claim against Islington Council, we require an initial payment of £350. A further £350 is due upon service of the Section 42 notice. The balance is paid only upon completion, which typically takes 4-6 months.
Islington FAQs
Specific questions regarding lease extensions in the London Borough of Islington.
1. Does Islington Council allow informal extensions?
It is rare for Islington Council to offer informal lease extensions on favourable terms. They typically direct leaseholders to the statutory route. This ensures the calculation is fair and follows the legal formula, but it does mean serving formal notices is usually required.
2. What costs do I pay to the Council?
In addition to the premium for the lease, you are legally required to pay the Council's "reasonable" legal and valuation fees. For Islington Council, these fees are generally standardized. We review them to ensure they are within acceptable limits.
3. Can I extend if I own a shared ownership property?
Usually, you can only extend your lease under the statutory route if you have "staircased" up to 100% ownership. If you own less than 100%, you may need to ask the Council for an informal extension, which is at their discretion. We can advise you on your specific lease.
4. How long does it take in Islington?
The statutory timeline is fixed by law. Once we serve the notice, the Council has 2 months to respond. After that, we have up to 6 months to negotiate. Generally, cases with Islington Council complete within 4 to 6 months from the start.
Contact Us
Enquire about your Islington lease extension today.
Address
11 Wells StreetScunthorpe
North Lincolnshire, DN15 6HW
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Open Hours
Monday - Friday
9:00AM - 5:15PM