Leasehold

Marriage Value

Estimate marriage value payable on a lease extension below 80 years.

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Introduction

Who this is for: Leaseholders and freeholders negotiating a statutory lease extension.

Why it matters: Marriage value is the uplift created by merging the leasehold and freehold interests, and under the Leasehold Reform Act it is shared equally between the parties where the lease has under 80 years to run. It is often the single largest component of an extension premium.

Typical scenario: A leaseholder with 72 years unexpired calculating the marriage value element before serving a Section 42 notice.

Common mistakes:
  • Not realising marriage value disappears entirely at 80 years and above.
  • Using the wrong relativity figure — this is the most disputed input in the whole calculation.
  • Assuming the 50/50 split is negotiable; it is fixed by statute.

Inputs

Values

£
£

years

Freeholder Interest

£
£

Analysis

The leaseholder gains £48,000 in value while the freeholder loses £16,500 of interest, creating marriage value of £31,500. Statute splits this equally, so £15,750 is payable by the leaseholder as part of the premium.

This analysis provides context, not financial advice. Consult a qualified adviser before making investment decisions.

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Sensitivity Analysis

Sensitivity

Adjust the variables below to stress-test this scenario. Results update instantly.

£340,000
£0£680,000
£292,000
£0£584,000

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Live Results

Total Marriage Value

£31,500

Leaseholder Share (50%)

£15,750

Freeholder Share (50%)

£15,750

Marriage Value Applies

Yes — under 80 years

ESTIMATE ONLY — NOT A VALUATION. Statutory lease valuations depend on relativity and deferment rates that are genuinely contested between surveyors and have been litigated at Tribunal. Small changes in those inputs move premiums by tens of thousands. Use this for initial screening only, and instruct a specialist valuer before serving notice or agreeing any premium.
Marriage value of £31,500 is payable because the lease is under 80 years. Had it been extended above 80 years, this element would have been nil — a saving of £15,750 on the leaseholder's share alone.
Relativity — the ratio of short lease to long lease value — is the most disputed input in leasehold valuation. Published graphs disagree with one another, and Tribunals have reached differing conclusions. This is the number to get professionally advised on.
Leaseholder Value Gain£48,000
Freeholder Interest Lost£16,500
Saving if Extended Above 80 Years£15,750