Compton Group - Zurich Insurance

YBird123

I am hoping that perhaps someone on here has more experience of dealing with this outfit or even this type of situation. Having never posted on a forum before I apologise if I have not observed the proper format or hijacked anyone else's question etc...

To provide some background, we bought our property about 7 years ago, about a year after we moved in we were contacted by the Compton Group informing us that we were required to insure our property with their approved providers, who at the time were Norwich Union. I refused as I had already arranged insurance through Zurich. Shortly afterwards we were informed that we now needed to insure through Zurich, which didn't pose us a problem as we already had a policy of insurance through them.

Consistently the premiums have continued to rise, and through my own lasiness, and the fact that I have had two children in the space of a year, I had no inclination to alter things. This year however I want to change our insurance provider, we have over 5 years no claims and want to take advantage of the low quotes we've had rather than paying through the teeth.

Having read the lease I am aware that I am required to insure the property with a reputable company who may be prescibed by the landlord. I also know that I can provide Compton with a Notice of Cover 14 days prior to renewal to escape their evil clutches.

However my question is this, technically, Compton only own the right to collect the ground rent. The Freehold estate is unregistered and when our property was registered there was no evidence produced of the Freehold title. Having made a search at Land Registry it appears that the compton Group only own the right to collect the Ground Rent on the property. On this basis, wouldn't I be within my rights to forego sending a Notice of Cover as they are not the Landlord? I'm intersted in whether anyone else has attempted to use this argument against them, and of the outcome.

I'm grateful for any response.