Extending Your Lease? Why a RICS Valuer Makes a Financial Difference
Extending a residential lease is not just a legal process, it is a specialist valuation exercise governed by statute, case law and market evidence.
If you are considering extending your lease, you need a surveyor with technical expertise, regulatory credentials and real negotiation experience. Tom Olden at Olden Property offers all three.
Fully Qualified, Regulated and Experienced
Tom Olden, MSc (Hons), MRICS is a Chartered Surveyor and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Registered Valuer.
His professional background includes:
Member of RICS since 2007
BSc (Hons) in Economics and Sociology
MSc in Real Estate Development and Investment
Founder of Olden Property Limited (established February 2014)
Former Associate Director, Compulsory Purchase and Regeneration team at GL Hearn (2008–2014)
Earlier involvement in land assembly for the London 2012 Olympic Games with the London Development Agency
This combination of academic grounding and over 15 years’ post-qualification experience provides a strong technical foundation for complex valuation matters, including lease extensions.
Being a RICS Registered Valuer means:
Valuations are compliant with the RICS Red Book
Advice is regulated and professionally insured
Reports can withstand scrutiny from freeholders, lenders and tribunals
Technical Expertise in Lease Extension Valuation
Statutory lease extension valuation under the Leasehold Reform legislation requires precise calculation of:
The landlord’s loss of ground rent (capitalisation)
The value of the reversion (deferment)
Marriage value (where the lease is below 80 years)
Relativity between short and long leases
Appropriate yield and deferment assumptions
This is technical valuation work, not estate agency opinion.
Tom’s valuation background, including compulsory purchase and regeneration work, means he is highly experienced in:
Analysing discounted cash flows
Assessing future interests
Interpreting market evidence
Presenting defensible valuation arguments
These skills translate directly into robust lease extension advice.
Strong Negotiation Experience
Lease extensions are negotiated, not simply calculated.
Freeholders are frequently advised by enfranchisement specialists. Without equivalent professional representation, leaseholders risk:
Overpaying on premium
Accepting unfavourable ground rent terms
Triggering marriage value unnecessarily
Losing leverage through poor timing
Tom negotiates directly with freeholders and their surveyors, using evidence-led valuation methodology rather than accepting headline figures.
His background in compulsory purchase negotiations where valuation disputes are often high-stakes and evidence-driven provides a disciplined, structured approach to protecting clients’ financial position.
Strategic Advice - Not Just a Premium Figure
A lease extension decision often involves timing strategy:
Extending before the lease falls below 80 years
Considering informal versus statutory routes
Assessing legislative reform risk
Coordinating valuation and legal service of notices
Tom advises on:
The most cost-effective route
Premium exposure under current assumptions
Negotiation strategy before serving a Section 42 Notice
Whether tribunal referral is proportionate
The objective is long-term value protection, not simply completing a transaction.
Established Independent Practice
Olden Property Limited was established in 2014 with a focus on specialist valuation advice. Independence matters in leasehold reform work.
Clients receive:
Direct involvement from a qualified Chartered Surveyor
Clear written valuation analysis
Transparent explanation of methodology
Coordination with solicitors handling the legal process
There is no reliance on junior staff or automated estimates, each valuation is evidence-led and professionally prepared.
Why This Background Matters for Leaseholders
Lease extension premiums directly affect:
Saleability
Mortgageability
Long-term capital value
Future financial flexibility
The difference between a poorly evidenced proposal and a well-supported valuation can be material.
Tom Olden’s:
Academic grounding in economics and real estate
Long-standing RICS membership
Regulated valuer status
Experience in complex property negotiations
Over a decade of running a specialist valuation practice
all provide a solid foundation for advising leaseholders seeking fair, defensible and properly negotiated outcomes.
In Summary
Extending your lease is a financial decision with lasting implications. It requires technical valuation skill, regulatory compliance and disciplined negotiation.
Tom Olden combines:
RICS-regulated valuation expertise
Detailed knowledge of leasehold valuation mechanics
Proven negotiation experience
Independent, commercially focused advice
If you are considering extending your lease, taking advice from a qualified enfranchisement valuer at the outset can make a significant financial difference.