Freeholder reappears demanding 6 years ground rent

Freeholder reappears demanding 6 years ground rent

11:59 AM, 7th December 2014, About 10 years ago 24

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I purchased a property in 2011 at auction,The solicitor was unable to locate the leaseholder.Recently I remortgaged and this time she was able to contact and yesterday I received this response. Freeholder reappears demanding 6 years ground rent

We can confirm the ground rent is not up to date and have been informed we can only claim a maximum of six years.

Ground rent charge £2.97 per annum x 6 £17.82
Notice charge £25.00
Admin fee £75.00

Total due £117.82

I am wrong to be outraged at this given that the actual ground rent I owe for the three years is less than a tenner.

Any thoughts?

Regards

Sheriden Whiteside


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All BankersAreBarstewards Smith

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10:06 AM, 9th December 2014, About 10 years ago

I have a few of these Tony and all the freeholders have tried it on by claiming excessive admin costs at some stage or another. ... I challenge them every time and then send them the cheque for their pittance which probably costs them more to pay into the bank than the cheque I send !!

Their latest trick was to send the invoice to an address I have never lived at, then to write to my Lender..... I challenged the freeholder, lender agreed it was not a "breach of my mortgage" and did nothing... but its a pain.

they now want me to pay 2 years at a time by internet banking .... "sorry" was my response " its not convenient" - I send an annual cheque for a few pence just to annoy them !! and I ask for a receipt ... lol

Tony Lilleystone

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10:27 AM, 9th December 2014, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "All BankersAreBarstewards Smith" at "09/12/2014 - 10:06":

Good on you! It's a pity these old rent charges weren't abolished completely, they are nothing but a nuisance. But of course the owners would have had to be compensated for their loss(?) and we mustn't interfere with their rights, must we!

Sam Addison

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22:46 PM, 9th December 2014, About 10 years ago

I own a property as leaseholder which has a rent-charge. A company tried to get us to pay this and our solicitor told us we should just pay. Upon investigation via land registry we found that the rent charge is to be paid by the freeholder. It is not our problem. As the freeholder is not accessible (not now living at address) we have not paid ground rent for 7 years. As rent charge is approx = ground rent then freeholder has no interest in appearing.
Meanwhile, freeholder does not hamper us in doing what we need to at the property. We have no interest in acquiring the freehold as we would then have to pay the rent-charge.
BTW I understand you can buy out the rent-charge at a fixed multiple( 15 I think) of the annual charge. Otherwise it is being abolished by law in 2035 (I think).

Neil Robb

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14:54 PM, 14th December 2014, About 10 years ago

Hi Sheriden

If I was you I would not pay any other cost apart from the original ground rent fee. I have had three request sent to me recently. When I contacted my solicitor they said they can only claim for 6 years. I have bought each of these properties in the last few years.

I contacted the factor or what ever they are called and said I would happily pay for the time I have owned the properties. The refused stating it must be paid one was out standing for 19 years.

When I bought the properties there was an insurances indemnity taking out to cover this if it was ever requested by the factor. I was keen to sort this out as I pride myself in paying my debts. But thinking about it if they did not chase the previous owner for 19 years what is the chance they will do anything to me. However I did send the request to my solicitor to deal with.

Thinking about it if they take no action for the next 10 years they can still only claim £30.00 so why bother paying it.

It is my understanding these charges are to be abolished sometime in the future.

I thought they could not charge an admin fee when they first ask for payment. Until after trying to claim the original payment if it was not paid.

The chances are it will cost them more to pursue this than it will to accept the payment for the ground rent outstanding.

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