Chief rent on freehold property, how to trace the rentowner

se_ren

Hoping someone has some experience with this....My property has a chief rent of £2.10 per year associated with it, which I'd like to buy out. However, I've never recieved a bill, and neither the land registry or the solicitor I used to do the conveyancing can tell me who the rent owner is, just there is a rent charge on my property. The solicitor has advised me verbally that if there hasn't been a bill it is not worth chasing up. I believe for rent charges, that you can't be liable for more than a certain number of years in arrears, the rent charge can't be put up, and there should be no fees associated with it. Also if in arrears your property can't be repossessed.
Although I would like to buy out the chief rent, I don't know what else I can do to trace the rent owner. Can anyone who's been in this position advise me?

Thanks!

AdrianC

I think some terminology might need clarifying...

You say the property is freehold? So what is this "chief rent", and who is the "rent owner" you refer to?

Or do you mean ground rent payable to the freeholder, and you are a leaseholder? If so, check the land registry entry - the last known freeholder will be listed there. If not, or if they cannot be contacted, then there are ways forward. Others here can give more details, or google "absent freeholder".

princeofpounds

Chief rent = ground rent, it's a regional term, probably what is used in the paperwork

Richard_Webster

It could be leasehold where it would be a ground rent - but more likely it is a rentcharge which can apply to freehold property -only found in certain parts of the country.

There is a means of redeeming these - see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rentcharges although at the mokment the way the amoutn is calculated is not settled - see the page referred to.

If you can't find the owner then you can pfrobably pay the money and it is held fior the owner untilhe appears to claim it, if ever.

G_M

Richard_Webster wrote: »

It could be leasehold where it would be a ground rent - but more likely it is a rentcharge which can apply to freehold property -only found in certain parts of the country.

There is a means of redeeming these - see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rentcharges although at the mokment the way the amoutn is calculated is not settled - see the page referred to.

If you can't find the owner then you can pfrobably pay the money and it is held fior the owner untilhe appears to claim it, if ever.

Thanks Richard. Fascinating link! Love the fact that redemption calculation is based on a non-existant figure!

s1ipmatt

Why do you want to buy it?

My house also has chief rent, but i know the company i have to pay. Sometimes they write to me to ask if i want to buy at X amount. Its not worth my effort, im more of a hassle to them. As i was told all chief rent will be no more in 2037. So your £2.20 has 22 years left giving a total of £48.40p. Do you think you will be able to find a solicitor to deal with the sale for less than this? Therefore to me its a no brainier.