Ground rent arrears

Belfast1978

Hi I was wondering if anyone can advise.

Received a demands by hand last night for 12 years worth of ground rent for my house and the house either side! I have owned my house since Feb 2013

The letter isn't in my name but now the chartered surveyor's have my details as I rung them to let them know they had what I thought was the wrong person lol

when I signed the contract in feb 2013 I was told something about being able to collect £5 a year from my neighbours but nothing about having to pay someone each year which to be honest im not worried about £14 a year but do I really have to pay the arrears for this for 12 years worth?

Also what are the implications of not owning the actual ground my house in on? I am very confused as I am sure I owned this could it be a company just chancing there arm?

G_M

None of us an see your Title Deeds.

Or read any Lease that might apply to the property. Or your neighbour's properties.

That is where the answers will be.......

Belfast1978

I asked my solicitor who said the houses either side have a sublease but for some reason I have to collect their ground rent?

Can I ask why do I have to pay some random company ground rent? how is it they own this on a house I own outright sorry if that's a stupid question but im really confused by this as this is the first I have heard about this.

scaredlady

Belfast1978 wrote: »

Hi I was wondering if anyone can advise.

Received a demands by hand last night for 12 years worth of ground rent for my house and the house either side! I have owned my house since Feb 2013

The letter isn't in my name but now the chartered surveyor's have my details as I rung them to let them know they had what I thought was the wrong person lol

when I signed the contract in feb 2013 I was told something about being able to collect £5 a year from my neighbours but nothing about having to pay someone each year which to be honest im not worried about £14 a year but do I really have to pay the arrears for this for 12 years worth?

Also what are the implications of not owning the actual ground my house in on? I am very confused as I am sure I owned this could it be a company just chancing there arm?

My grandmother used to pay ground rent on her property. It belonged to the local gentry.
She eventually paid a sum of money to purchase the land.
Have to say if no one has chased anyone for 12 years..who on earth owns it.
As regards to do you have to pay..a solicitor ..with deeds in hand might be the place.

G_M

Belfast1978 wrote: »

Can I ask why do I have to pay some random company ground rent? how is it they own this on a house I own outright sorry if that's a stupid question but im really confused by this as this is the first I have heard about this.

How can I or others answer this without lookig at your deeds.

As previously advised, get them out and read them!

Belfast1978

G_M they are in a fireproof safe at my solicitor's office so annoyingly cant just glance at them I am afraid. Will this state in the lease this company owns the land for example my house is over 100 yrs old but this company certainly isn't 100 years old so how could a random company buy something that is able to charge a homeowner rent this is what I am confused about.

I appreciate you taking the time to reply to his but please realise not all of us have the experience with dealing with these things hence why I am asking here:]

stator

The freehold of the land can be bought and sold without your permission. Firstly you need to confirm that they actually own the freehold. If you purchase the Title from Land Registry website (£3) you can see who owns the freehold.
If they own it you need to establish what rent they are due each year, this is your lease.
Then you need to determine how far back they can claim, and whether it's you or the previous owner who is liable. Contact your solicitor for this. If the house is leashold it's something your solicitor should have checked, whether the ground rent is paid up to date

AdrianC

Belfast1978 wrote: »

they are in a fireproof safe at my solicitor's office so annoyingly cant just glance at them I am afraid.

Not quite - they're online at the Land Registry's website.

Sounds like you need to read up on the difference between freehold and leasehold. If you own the house leasehold, you don't OWN the land. The freeholder does. Which is why you need to pay them rent for it. It sounds like you lease the land all the houses are on from the freeholder, then your neighbours lease "their" land from you.

Your solicitor should have made this clear when you bought the place, along with clarifying any outstanding rent.

Belfast1978

Many thanks I do need to read up on this I had no idea ground rent even existed until today lol the house was a repo from the bank so apparently its harder to find out about the arrears etc.

I will check if they do indeed own this out of interest if I hadn't of bothered ringing this company what would have happened with regards to this matter?

stator

Eventually they would take you to county court and if you ignored that you would get a CCJ.