Persimmon Freehold Fiasco

formidablelady

:mad: Bought a Beazer/Persimmon home June 2001 and paid £500 for the Freehold. Just had a letter from Leasehold Management Property who inform me they bought the freehold interest from Pesimmon on 5th July 2005 and that we owe them £350 ground rent. We contacted Persimmons solicitors which we used at the time but they could find no record of this. We do have documentation from Persimmon however which says we did pay them. Does anyone know where we stand with this?

formidablelady

Bump!!!!!!!!

rach29

Have you tried talking to the solicitor who did your conveyancing? Although it may cost you a bit I would imagine that a letter from them confirming that you bought the freehold would do the trick.

Bossyboots

Have you informed LMP that you bought the freehold on purchase? Could this just be an error on their part?

Otherwise, what does your documentation actually say in respect of what you paid for?

formidablelady

Soliciter worked for Persimmon and has left the firm. The documentation is a receipt from Persimmon listing all the various things we paid. But can't find anything from the actual solicitors. We should have been more shrewd at the time.You live and learn. 2 other funny things. Persimmon had the leasehold for the first 4 years yet no one came for ground rent and we were never informed that they were selling it to LMP.

Bossyboots

It doesn't matter whether the solicitor has left the firm they should still have your file. Request your file from the company and see what is on there.

If your receipt includes the freehold purchase then you will need to send a copy to LMP. I am wondering if they have just blanket mailed everyone without checking or indeed, that they have not realised some of the freeholds had been sold.

Aside from that, I am concerned that you have been hoodwinked. What is the exact wording of your receipt in respect of the freehold payment?

formidablelady

The solicitor say they have checkedthe file and have nothing. Interestingly I have checked and all the houses on the estate are freehold. As it was only £500 I find that very odd. Bqssyboots will need to check the receipt again will let you know.

EdInvestor

Soliciter worked for Persimmon

Err,wot?

There is supposed to be one solicitor for the buyer and one for the seller.

formidablelady

Opps sorry mean't Solicitor was recommended by Persimmon.

Doozergirl

Is it possible that it's a scam?

Have you checked the Land Registry to see what that says with regard to the freehold? It's only £2 or £3.

I can't find any reference Googling "leasehold management property" (is it me or does the phrase not even make sense). The Companies House search is 'closed' right now.

I know with flats, that even if you hadn't bought the freehold, that the freeholder would be obliged to offer it to you and have written confirmation that you didn't want it. I don't know whether it applies to houses. I would have assumed it did

pan111

Ive heard of people being duped by scammers pretending to be lease holders...as above...a land registry check will tell you what is what