Dispute over ground rent threatening the sale

moneyistooshorttomention

Galanova wrote: »

Thanks to everyone who has answered.
I think things are a bit clearer now. If the ground rent is not payable and the management company still charges it (for the reason I now want to clarify) then probably for the buyer it's not a matter of paying £30 annually and not that they don't want to deal with unexpected rises of rent (it being impossible) but probably it's a matter of trying to sell the flat in future and having potential problems with the management company (for example not issuing lease pack until he pays the ground rent he doesn't want to pay).
Would be interesting to hear his solicitor's explanation and how they think this can be resolved...

Admits I'd be inclined, in your position, to write them a recorded delivery letter saying "Herewith enclosed 500 peppercorns - and this will cover the ground rent for the next 500 years (whoever owns the place). BTW - you owe me £30 times x number of years and I look forward to receiving a cheque for that amount soonest".

Galanova

It would be interesting to see their reaction )
Seriously, I wonder on what grounds the managing company is doing that now delaying the sale which may cost me much more than £30 a year... This really needs some looking into.

Richard_Webster

It is possible that there is a separate charge payable to a management company for some services such as cutting a bit of grass outside the block. This would be a service charge rather than ground rent but maybe people got mixed up as to exactly what it was and what ti was for?

Galanova

Richard_Webster wrote: »

It is possible that there is a separate charge payable to a management company for some services such as cutting a bit of grass outside the block. This would be a service charge rather than ground rent but maybe people got mixed up as to exactly what it was and what ti was for?

There is service charge payable but I was definitely told by my solicitors that this was about ground rent... I am still waiting for some comments from the seller/his solicitors as it was just today I discovered it. So I have to rely on what my solicitors told me for the moment being.