Ground rent increase

SUPERJULES

mjmal51 wrote: »

It is the principle that the OP objects to. If the freeholder adds £1 to a 1000 properties then he is getting away with it.
I have just purchased a leasehold property with 999 years (from 1960) at £12 10s (50p to some!) per year and it seems everybody has been paying £14/year recently without questioning it, so I guess that I will do so also because of the principle.

That's exactly it the principle, it's like going into Tesco and buying a bar of chocolate clearly priced at £2 but at the till they try charging you £3, and if it was the only item you were buying you would notice straight away and not many people would pay the £3 when it was clearly marked up at £2 would they??

Thanks for your reply

SUPERJULES

clutton wrote: »

are you really going to make a huge fuss about £1 ???

Not sure, it's just annoying me, and it's still a pound in their pocket that should be in mine, and a pounds a pound:EasterBunI could buy a cadbury's egg with that pound

SUPERJULES

I contacted the leasehold advisory service and they have sent me this reply-

Dear Mrs xxxxx,
Thank you for your enquiry of 30/03/2010.
You are right in your assertion that ground rent is set out in the lease and can only be increased in accordance with the terms of the lease. I suggest you write back to the landlord and inform them that you intend to pay the contractual amount only and no more.
I hope my comments prove helpful, but if you have any questions please feel free to contact me. My direct line phone number is 020 7374 5389. You can reply to this message using the link below.

rl290

As many have said, including the advisory service, just write back and tell them to get lost. What are they bothering with this for anyway? That is, of course, assuming that there is no mechanism for increase.

R

tbs624

clutton wrote: »

are you really going to make a huge fuss about £1 ???

Clearly, the FHer is trying to do so, without justification. The OP is entitled to refuse to pay it. If s/he wants to make charitable donations there are probably better places to send a spare quid.

Superjules - glad you got the LAS confirmation of the contents of my original post. Tell the other leaseholders too, so that's 5 x £1.00 less in the dodgy FHers pockets and they can absorb their own admin costs..:)

Soot2006

tbs624 wrote: »

Write back to them stating that the lease states clearly that the rent is £10 for the five properties per annum, that there is no mechanism within the lease for an increase (if there definitely isn't) and that you do not agree to any such increase.

If you have problems with them contact the :Leasehold Advisory Service

Please please do this recorded so the letter costs over £1 to send :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Ulfar

Its not just a principle is it, maybe the £1 this year is testing the water.

Next year and subsequent years it could be more, nip it in the bud now.

Oh and tell the other owners to do the same.

tbs624

Soot2006 wrote: »

Please please do this recorded so the letter costs over £1 to send :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

You must be okay with dodgy business practice if your argument is that if it would cost you to rescind their payment request you just cough up however much they ask. However, in this case, just the one joint letter between 5 properties and sent 2nd class ...

SUPERJULES

They only live a short car drive away and I have the letter to post with the payment anyway so I could knock on their door myself or maybe just post it.

mjmal51

Wrote to the freeholder enquiring why they charge £1.50/year more than the lease states and expected a lame excuse. However just had a reply saying they checked and admit their error, have backdated their history and I am now in credit. so not a large amount but a result for the principle concerned. Now to get all the neighbours involved!