New freehold owner chasing me for payment - but I already paid previous freehold owner?

ookle

My ground rent is due annually on/before end of Dec, for the year in advance. I paid the same company I had paid ground rent to for 20 yrs, on time in full.

I got a letter this month, informing me a new company has bought the freehold. I then received another letter today, chasing me for the payment, telling me I need to pay the new company. But I paid the old company back in December. 

Back in December had no insight that 4 months later, a new company would take over the freehold. I hadn't received any comms from old or new freeholder until this month. 

Where do I stand with this? By my records, I'm not due to pay the new company until December 2023. Feels like they are trying to sneak an extra payment out of me. Do I just tell them to check with the previous freeholder and validate that the payment was made and update their records accordingly?

eddddy

You simply tell the new freeholder that you've paid the ground rent for Jan 2023 to Dec 2023 in Dec 2022 (or whatever the correct dates are).

The old freeholder should have given all these kinds of details to the new freeholder. i.e. Who has/hasn't paid their ground rent, who has/hasn't paid their service charge and/or how much is owed etc.


What evidence do you have that you paid it? e.g. A bank transfer showing on your bank statement?

MWT

ookle said:

I got a letter this month, informing me a new company has bought the freehold. I then received another letter today, chasing me for the payment, telling me I need to pay the new company. But I paid the old company back in December. 

The letter should have stated the effective date of the purchase of the freehold, was that before or after you made your payment?

ookle

eddddy said:

You simply tell the new freeholder that you've paid the ground rent for Jan 2023 to Dec 2023 in Dec 2022 (or whatever the correct dates are).

The old freeholder should have given all these kinds of details to the new freeholder. i.e. Who has/hasn't paid their ground rent, who has/hasn't paid their service charge and/or how much is owed etc.


What evidence do you have that you paid it? e.g. A bank transfer showing on your bank statement?

This is what I thought. The 1st letter tells me they bought the freehold in March. 

I have a copy of a bank statement showing the payment made before Christmas.

So I think my approach is now:
1. Tell them to check their records again from the handover, as payment for this year has been made. Proof can be made available on request.
2. Tell them to send me confirmation that my payments are all up to date.
3. Tell them to confirm the correct payment schedule.

Is it worth contacting the old freeholder company or are they likely to just wash their hands of it?

penners324

Just contact the new freeholder.