999year leasehold garage

Nargis_2

I have freehold mortgage on my house but the garage is leasehold for 999 years. How do I get out of it make it freehold as well?
I asked the firm that rents it if this was possible but they refused. I have stopped paying until this is resolved so they charge me £50+ administration fees everytime they write a letter.
Please help!
Any advice will be highly appreciated.
Nargis.

SalsaDanca

If you own the leasehold to the garage, someone else currently owns the freehold. It may belong to the firm you rent it from, or they may just be an agent for the owner. If you want the freehold, you will have to buy it from its current owner.

You are in the same situation as someone who wants to buy a house (or anything else) that isn't for sale. You can approach the owner and make him an offer, but you can't force him to accept it. If he is willing to sell and you can agree on a price, you have a deal. If he isn't willing to sell, or he wants more than you are prepared to pay, you're out of luck.

I think some legal protection was proposed to allow the owners of leasehold flats to club together and buy the freehold from their landlord, but I don't know if it will apply to garages. If you want to keep using the garage, the easiest thing to do is probably to keep paying the rent.

Regards,

Rob

Kaz2904

I'm sorry but I have to agree that you just have to continue to rent the garage. The owner doesn't have to sell the freehold to you unless there is a covenant or something with the deeds. I would try to cooperate with the owner (try to find out who they are) and see if you can come to some sort of agreement.
999 years isn't so bad for a lease- you won't be round to see it expire! Alternatively you could sell it on if you wished but that would devalue your house presumably!