How Long Does a Lease Extension Take?
When planning a lease extension, one of the first questions leaseholders ask is: how long does the process take? The answer depends on whether you follow the statutory route (your legal right under the 1993 Act) or negotiate informally with your freeholder.
The Statutory Lease Extension Timeline
If you qualify, the statutory route gives you the right to extend your lease by 90 years and reduce ground rent to zero. The process usually takes 6–12 months from start to finish, and follows these key steps:
Valuation – A surveyor calculates the likely premium payable.
Serving a Section 42 Notice – Your solicitor formally notifies the freeholder.
Freeholder’s Counter-Notice – The freeholder has two months to respond.
Negotiation – Surveyors for both parties negotiate a fair premium.
Agreement or Tribunal – If terms cannot be agreed, the matter may be referred to the First-tier Tribunal for determination.
Completion – Once agreed, the new lease is granted and registered with the Land Registry.
While the law sets timeframes, delays often occur during negotiations, or if the freeholder is slow to respond.
Informal Lease Extensions
An informal lease extension is one negotiated directly with the freeholder, outside the statutory process. These can sometimes be completed more quickly – often in 3–6 months – but the terms are at the freeholder’s discretion. Ground rents or shorter extensions may be included, which is why professional advice is essential.
What Can Cause Delays?
Freeholder response times
Complex negotiations over the premium
Missing documentation or unclear title
Tribunal involvement (if agreement cannot be reached)
Why Planning Ahead Matters
If your lease is approaching the 80-year threshold, timing is critical. Even a small delay could push you below the cut-off, making your lease extension far more expensive. Starting the process early helps avoid unnecessary costs and stress.
On average, lease extensions take between six months and a year through the statutory route. Informal negotiations can be quicker, but come with risks. Either way, planning ahead and appointing a surveyor and solicitor early will help keep things on track.
At Olden Property, we guide clients through the lease extension process every step of the way, helping avoid delays and ensuring a fair outcome.