Ground Rent none payment

chesham5

Hi All

Have a few questions about ground rent I hope you can help with.

Briefly, I moved into my house in 2002 and have only ever had one bill for ground rent of £15. I have just received a letter telling me of the people I'd paid my ground rent to of their change of address and payment methods - still not an invoice for payment.

My questions are:
1. Do I have to pay if they haven't sent me a bill or told me how much I owe?
2. They have stated they cannot accept cheques for under £50 and will charge £4.80 per cheque if payment is made that way. Is that fair?
Remember the letter still wasn't a bill asking for payment
3. Can they ask to see a copy of my insurance certificate for the property? My last correspondance in 2002 demanded I insure my house with the company they stipulated. I didn't, I found my own and at the time sent a copy of my certificate of insurance.

I am concerned that although they haven't asked for payment since 2002 they may take some sort of legal action for none payment

Many Thanks
Chesham5

maninthestreet

This may help, click 'Ground Rent' in the LH frame that appears in this link:

http://www.lease-advice.org/scgrframe.htm

granville_2

chesham5 wrote: »

Hi All

Have a few questions about ground rent I hope you can help with.

Briefly, I moved into my house in 2002 and have only ever had one bill for ground rent of £15. I have just received a letter telling me of the people I'd paid my ground rent to of their change of address and payment methods - still not an invoice for payment.

My questions are:
1. Do I have to pay if they haven't sent me a bill or told me how much I owe?
2. They have stated they cannot accept cheques for under £50 and will charge £4.80 per cheque if payment is made that way. Is that fair?
Remember the letter still wasn't a bill asking for payment
3. Can they ask to see a copy of my insurance certificate for the property? My last correspondance in 2002 demanded I insure my house with the company they stipulated. I didn't, I found my own and at the time sent a copy of my certificate of insurance.

I am concerned that although they haven't asked for payment since 2002 they may take some sort of legal action for none payment

Many Thanks
Chesham5

Please check your lease first!

It may seem like a small amount but failure to pay ground rent can have the potential to end up in forfeiting of leases.

ymmv.

chesham5

maninthestreet wrote: »

This may help, click 'Ground Rent' in the LH frame that appears in this link:

http://www.lease-advice.org/scgrframe.htm

Thanks Maninthestreet. The link is great and does say that the landlord must ask for payment of rent with date, amount etc.. which he hasn't.

chesham5

granville wrote: »

Please check your lease first!

It may seem like a small amount but failure to pay ground rent can have the potential to end up in forfeiting of leases.

ymmv.

Hi Granville
Yes good advice thanks. I know ignoring this could set me up for a fall! I think to resolve this I may contact the company in writing enclosing a cheque to cover the years of none payment 4 years in total £60 but stipulate that they have not sent me a bill for the past four years.

olly300

chesam5 make sure you keep a copy of the letter and the cheque number of the cheque you send them.

chesham5

olly300 wrote: »

chesam5 make sure you keep a copy of the letter and the cheque number of the cheque you send them.

Thanks Olly300. Would have copy of the letter but didn't even think about the cheque number.

granville_2

chesham5 wrote: »

Hi Granville
Yes good advice thanks. I know ignoring this could set me up for a fall! I think to resolve this I may contact the company in writing enclosing a cheque to cover the years of none payment 4 years in total £60 but stipulate that they have not sent me a bill for the past four years.

Never wait for a bill!

The lease will state when ground rent is due. Make sure you have paid it in full by this date.

eeker

The freeholder must demand the ground rent using a prescribed form :
see this website for details http://www.lease-advice.org/

The specific laws which relate to demanding ground rent changed in 2004. My understanding is that the changes in the law overide what is written in the lease. However I am not qualifed in any way but if you contact Lease they will discuss your situation and give you proper free advice including reasonableness of charges.

I have previously been in dispute with my freeholder over unpaid (undemanded ) ground rent and ridiculous admin charges for non payment (£125.00 a letter ) and won.

HTH