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Chief Rent

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witb_2
witb_2 Posts: 2 Newbie
edited 29 April 2010 at 11:55AM in House buying, renting & selling
Hi,

I'm responsible for paying the chief rent of mine and my neighbours properties. However 25 years ago my neighbour and I had a dispute and as such fell out and since then they have not paid me for their share of the ground rent.

I have sent letters to them requesting payment and also asked my solicitor to send them a letter requesting payment however all communication is ignored. Could anybody shine any light on this situation and show me where I stand legally on this?

Thanks

Comments

  • Richard_Webster
    Richard_Webster Posts: 7,646 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Could anybody shine any light on this situation and show me where I stand legally on this?

    Not without knowing why you are
    responsible for paying the ground rent of mine and my neighbours properties.

    You will need to explain a bit more why you have this responsibility. Is it a lease of two houses for a fixed annual ground rent for the two so the freeholder doesn't care which of you pays as long as he gets his money?
    RICHARD WEBSTER

    As a retired conveyancing solicitor I believe the information given in the post to be useful assuming any properties concerned are in England/Wales but I accept no liability for it.
  • witb_2
    witb_2 Posts: 2 Newbie
    Firstly I'd like to apologise for the fact that I posted this in the wrong forum and meant to say Chief rent - sorry for any confusion.
    Richard_Webster wrote: »
    Not without knowing why you are
    I'm going to be moving house in the next few months and have been frustrated by the fact there seems to be nothing I can do about it. It has cost me £10 a year for 25 years and I would at least like some of it back considering I should have only paid £125.
    Richard_Webster wrote: »
    You will need to explain a bit more why you have this responsibility. Is it a lease of two houses for a fixed annual ground rent for the two so the freeholder doesn't care which of you pays as long as he gets his money?

    No the bill at the end of the year comes to me - my house. Whoever lives at my house has to pay the ground rent for the land that my property is on and my neighbours. If for some reason I refuse to pay, as I am responsible for collecting the money from the ajoining house it will be me who goes to court not my neighbour.

    With Chief rent it is actually possible to buy out the person that owns the land however the company that owns it is requesting an unreasonable amount.
  • talulahbeige_2
    talulahbeige_2 Posts: 790 Forumite
    I'd shoulder the loss.
    25 years to go without chasing them for the money is a long time and as such you've set a bit of a precedent.
    Also why would you want to kick off another dispute with a neighbour when you would then have to legally declare the disupte as your sellign the house
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