Ladybrook - buying the ground rent

paulafbrown

I want to buy my ground rent from Ladybrook as well as the covenant so I can see clients from home (currently not allowed unless I'm a dentist, doctor or solicitor). I'm worried about asking though as the drive was placed when we bought it and the covenant says it has to be a lawn and looking at the posts here it seems likely they will then charge me for breach...? Paul, Birmingham

eddddy

So presumably you have a leasehold property. Presumably it's a house (rather than a flat or maisonette).

I think you probably mean you want to buy the freehold, so that you no longer have to pay ground rent and you are no longer bound by the lease covenants. (e.g. the covenant not to run a business, and the covenant not to lay a drive.)


The first problem is that it's possible for the freeholder to transfer some of the covenants in the lease across to the freehold title. So buying the freehold might not mean you can run the business or have the drive.


If the freeholder wants to keep those covenants - you might need to ask a specialist solicitor who is experienced in 'Leasehold Enfranchisement' how likely you are to win a case to have them removed.


(Potentially there are other issues with running a business from home with clients visiting - like planning consent, insurance, and maybe mortgage terms.)