Compton Group +ground rent +insurance

SWANSEAJACK_2

Hi JOVIGIRL ,

Does your primary letter contain the words :

'all we REQUIRE you to do is return the enclosed
form ' - or wording to similar effect ??

SWANSEAJACK

Sassaf

I've established a firm hold. I expect them to stop dancing about with me very shortly. My last note on another thread is this. (Please note they cannot force you to take their insurance - you serve Notice of Cover to them telling them who you are insured with, two weeks before your renewal is due). That is all they can ask for.
Compton have now written to me stating that I served my Notice late, which is true. I pointed out that it was late due to the fact they had not provided information relating to the premium and cover of the insurance they were offering therefore I had to remain with my insurer. They are asking that I serve my Notice in time annually ongoing and to pay them £60 to cover their additional admin costs (not broken down in any way to explain what those costs might be) as a grace to not suing me for Breach. All complete nonsense. I informed them I will not be paying them anything but if they continue I will contra charge at my contractor charge out rate for the amount of time I have had to waste corresponding with them. I await their next missive with bated breath.

Riq

My parents had a letter from them, alot of the houses on our road got identical letters.

They all went to Crompton's together and got a much reduced tariff and all purchased the freehold.

See if your neighbours have similar letters. Crompton's were open to negotiations with my parents and a number of neighbours.

ibizaworld

Hi, I work in the insurance industry and afew years ago had a customer whom received a letter stating that he must insure his buildings through Comptons nominated company AXA.
He fought long and hard against why he should have to do this since he had insured his buildings for numerous years with companies of his choice.
He decided to get his title deeds out and then found a covenant which stated that he must insure his buildings against the peril of FIRE only!
So he rang his insurance company and asked them how much his annual premium would be for the peril of fire only to which he was told less than two pounds per year.
He then rang AXA explaining that he had to insure his buildings through them in the future and explained that according to his title deeds it is only mandatory to have insurance against the peril of fire and could they send their local representative round to arrange this.
AXA didnt want to know for such a low premium.

Janie2008

I know this is an old thread but I wanted to put a reply in case its of use to anyone in the future.

I refused to change my insurance company to Zurich and like a previous post received threats of possible legal action and letters to my mortgage lender. However they eventually gave up. The last letter I got was one talking of possible legal action and that was several years ago.

osirrom

tmm_aka_tracy wrote: »

Hi Guys,

I've got the same problem, with the same company Comptons.

I have lived in the house for 23yrs + and for the first 19 years, paid my £1.12 per year ground rent. Around 4/5 years ago, my ground rent bill came by Comptons, together with instruction from them to insure my building through Zurich.

After a quick search, I found a standard letter which you complete with your insurance details, and if it is recieved by them within 14 days of the insurance renewal, then there is little they can do to knock back your insurance.

However..... this year, I forgot to send the standard letter in time, so I got the frightners from Comptons, stating I was in breach of my lease and that they 'could' pass my case to thier legal department to start proceedings. (I have asked on numerous occasions what this would actually mean to me... but have never received any kind of answer).

I did send the letter about 6 weeks late, and thier response was that I owe them £25..00 to approve this insurer - even though I have used the same insurer for the past 12 years and they have accepted this in the past.

They have now written to my mortgage company, who have written to me suggesting that Comptons could now start 'possession proceedings'.

I ran the leasehold advisory service today to ask what the worst case senario is, and tbh, the advice was rubbish (just buy the lease; just pay them £25 to get them off your back; make sure you send the letter in within the timescale).......

I cant afford the freehold and on principle I refuse to pay them £25. I'm almost tempted to see how far they will go to persue this, and wonder if they went so far as to take me to court whether the judge would indeed rule in thier favour and reposses my house. I know its very extreme, but they have really put me in the mood for a fight.

Also, I was not informed of any change to my leasehold (or deeds) in recent years, so how can they now insist that I am in breach?

Has anybody actully taken them on and won? I know that they have been debated in the house of commons over thier actions. I have written to watchdog, but I dont think that they are interested in this.

If I was of a nervous disposition I dont know how I would cope with thier aggressive letters and language of legal proceedings.

Anybody have any advice?

Thanks

Tracy

Hi, I'm looking at also buying a house in Manchester and have just found that Comptons have the leasehold (making my potential house a sub-lease from them). Having done some internet searches I’m very concerned that this company has anything to do with the house. Has anyone (Tracey?) had any further luck with getting anywhere with this problem?

I notice in the leasehold documents it does say:

‘Lessee [me?] AND Lessor [Comptons]…. To observing the several covenants conditions and agreements herein contained…. May peaceably and quietly hold and enjoy the said premises… without any lawful interruption or disturbances from or by the Lessor or any person claiming under him…’

Any comments would be very helpful!

Many thanks

jucie_lucie

Hi All,
Osirrom - did you buy the house in manchester? I have also recently purchased a house in Manchester (Cheadle) with the freehold owned by the compton group. We were told by the estate agents that the property was leasehold, but the ground rent wasn't enforced (never listen to an estate agent!), and the vendors didn't even know who owned the freehold, so we thought the property being leasehold wouldn't affect us at all.
About a month ago we received a letter from the compton group demanding we pay the ground rent (£4 a year). I paid this, as requested (it's only £4 after all!). However, we've now had a letter stating we need to pay them £60 for 'notice of transfer'. The letter is very vague - please can anyone let me know what it means? Do we legally have to pay?
I have emailed the compton group for a quote for buying the freehold but not yet heard back. Has anyone bought the freehold off them? do you need a solicitor to do this? what are we likely to have to pay in fees, etc. on top of the actual quote?
I'd be grateful for any advice - this company seem like a bit of a nightmare from this post, and i'd much rather have nothing to do with them.
Thanks in advance,
Lucie

staceyalison2114

Oh I find this really interesting to read...I'm about to purchase a leasehold house with approx 900 years left but the freeholder cannot be found. Therefore no ground rent is currently paid and we have insurance from the vendors so with this information we have decided to go ahead with the purchase. However I am sure that something like this may happen in years to come but I guess we will have to cross that bridge when we get to it (TBH we would like to purchase the freehold anyway just for resale reasons really).

Good luck to all of you that are fighting this company and I hope you get the result you are after.

Sassaf

Swansea Jack - pray do tell how? I've had argy bargy with these people for over 2 years. They threatened me with breach of covenant. I pointed out that I had never had an insurance schedule for their supplier and was not taking insurance blindly. After advice, I have reached a position where I am paying them nothing despite their demands but under the the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act of 2002 i have to issue a Notice of Cover to them annually with my insurance schedule details. If I could turn the tables and and be as obnoxious to them as they have been to me, I would be delighted to hear about it. All please note, there is NO LEGAL OBLIGATION for you to take their insurance and never take any insurance if you have not had sight of the policy cover. Compton Group are notoriously difficult to communicate with; their email address given on website does not work and if you telephone you get voicemail for you to leave a message for them to call you back. These people are SHARKS playing on the ignorance of innocents!

hugabug

Hi Just purchased house, mortgage free, moved in all insured with direct line. Compton have now sent 2 ltr telling me i need to use their insurers. First that I had to change (i wrote back saying no and it would alter all my other premiums for other things i had with D Line). Now they tell me they want £60 to approve consent for this year and that next year i MUST change to their insurance company.

Can anyone help with advise to get round this - they are bullies being paid a backhander no doubt.

All my solicitor told me was that i had to insure with reputable insurance co - now worried as am single mum on low income and cant really afford tofight these horrors but dont see why i should be held to ransome

Advice anyone PLEASE?