London Borough of Merton
Everything you need to extend your lease
Are you a leaseholder in the London Borough of Merton?
If your property’s lease is getting short, you will more than likely have the right to extend it by 90 years and remove the ground rent. This is known as a Statutory Lease Extension, guaranteed under the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993.
At extension.lease, we specialize in helping leaseholders like you navigate the entire lease extension process with ease, from start to finish. We handle everything, including valuations, negotiations, and legal work, ensuring you don’t need to manage the complexities yourself. Our expert team will manage the entire process, with Blakes Chartered Surveyors handling the valuation and negotiation of the lease extension premium, and Arcadia Law dealing with the service of notices, agreement, and registration of the new lease.
Borough of Merton
SW19 - Wimbledon
SW20 - Raynes Park
CR4 - Mitcham
SM4 - Morden
KT3 - New Malden
Borough of Merton
What’s Involved in the Lease Extension Process?
The lease extension process involves several stages. We handle everything so you can relax while we take care of the details.
Stage 1: Valuation and Preparation
Our expert team at Blakes Chartered Surveyors will assess your property, taking into account comparable properties and your lease details to calculate the premium for your lease extension.
Stage 2: Notice and Negotiation
Once we have a clear idea of the extension premium, we’ll serve the Section 42 Notice to your freeholder, officially starting the process. Arcadia Law will manage the service of this notice and any legal correspondence. If necessary, Blakes Chartered Surveyors will negotiate with your freeholder to secure a fair price.
Stage 3: Conveyancing and Completion
Once the terms are agreed, Arcadia Law will handle all the legal paperwork and ensure your lease extension is registered with the Land Registry. You’ll then have peace of mind knowing your lease has been extended by 90 years, and the ground rent has been removed.
How the Statutory Lease Extension Process Works
How Much Does a Lease Extension Cost?
The cost of extending your lease depends on several factors, including whether your property is under the ownership of Merton Council or a private freeholder.
- Merton Council properties tend to have lower costs, as they generally have long leases (125 years) with minimal ground rents (e.g., £10 per year).
- Private freeholders may require a higher premium, especially if your lease has under 80 years remaining or you are paying rising ground rent.
In addition to the premium and the landlords recoverable costs, you’ll also need to budget for our fixed professional fee of £2,750 + VAT*, which includes all valuation, negotiation, and legal work. This fee is split into two equal instalments, making the payment process straightforward and manageable.
Contact us for a free all inclusive estimate of the total cost of your lease extension, without obligation.
Lease Extension Calculator
Extending your lease is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your property’s value and mortgageability. If your lease is under 100 years or has a high ground rent, its value may already be affected. Once it falls below 80 years, the cost of extending increases significantly due to marriage value.
Our free, instant Lease Extension Calculator gives you an instant estimate of the premium payable under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. It’s a quick, useful guide for leaseholders wanting to understand the likely cost of extending their lease before taking formal advice.
Extensive Experience Across Merton & London
We have a proven track record working with leaseholders in Merton, including properties under the ownership of the local authority and private freeholders. Whether you live in a purpose-built flat, a converted property, or a large housing development, we’ve handled it all. We cover all postcodes in Merton including
SW19 (Wimbledon)
SW20 (Raynes Park)
CR4 (Mitcham)
SM4 (Morden)
KT3 (New Malden, partly in Merton)
Why Choose extension.lease?
Our process is simple and transparent. There are no hidden fees—just our fixed fee for a complete lease extension service by fully regulated professionals acting on your behalf.
Recent Cases We've Handled in This Area
Everything you need to extend your lease
Ex-Council Block
Lease Extension Completed – SW19
Brief summary of work done
Solicitors Regulation
Lease Extension Completed – SW19
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Ex-Council Block
Lease Extension Completed – SW19
Brief summary of work done
Get Started with Your Lease Extension in Merton
Take the first step towards extending your lease with confidence. Book a call today with our expert team or get in touch to learn more about how we can help you.
Frequently Asked Questions
A statutory lease extension is a legal right that allows leaseholders to extend their lease by 90 years and remove any ground rent. This right is granted under the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, and it applies to almost all leaseholders in the UK, whether your property is owned by a local authority or a private landlord.
The entire lease extension process typically takes between 6 to 12 months. This includes the valuation, notice serving, negotiations with the freeholder, and legal work to register the new lease. However, the exact time can vary depending on factors like the complexity of negotiations or if any issues arise with the property documents.
The premium is the price you pay to extend your lease. It depends on several factors:
- The value of your property with a long lease.
- The number of years remaining on your current lease.
- The amount of ground rent you pay and how it increases over time.
Our surveyors will carry out a valuation to calculate a fair premium for your lease extension and negotiate where required to ensure you do not overpay.
If your lease has less than 80 years left, the cost of your lease extension will usually be higher. This is because properties with shorter leases are considered less valuable, and the cost to extend is affected by something called the marriage value, which is the increase in the property's value once the lease is extended. To avoid higher costs, it’s often best to act before your lease drops below 80 years.
Yes, your freeholder may charge fees for their involvement in the lease extension process. These fees typically cover the cost of legal work, including the drafting and registration of the new lease. While these fees are usually similar to the costs you incur, they can sometimes be higher depending on the freeholder's approach.
