Anyone had dealings with Ladybrook Securities / Ashby Breweries claiming ground rent?

poppyblue_3

Not long moved into our house and at the time no landlord could be found for our 999 lease for the land the house sits on. Now what looks like a very dodgy company are saying they have sent us demands for rent (which they haven't until we got a single reminder shorlty followed by a final notice).

It's not that i mind paying the rent (only amounts to what should be 70p yearly) it's what else they are going to try and get me to pay that worries me!

i know they haven't sent the initial letter that by law has to detail who they are, our rights and responsibilities, the term the money covers our rent for etc.

Just wondering if anyone else has had anyhting similar from this company?

thx

clutton_2

here is a draft of a letter i use from time to time - and have sent to Ladybrook in the past

Further to your letter of ..... addressed to the above property, and which has just been forwarded on to me by my current tenants, I write with reference to your demand for £98.03. I took over ownership of this property on .... 200.
Prior to this letter, I have received no other demands, and nor has the previous owner.

According to the conveyance dated 21 March 1906, this freehold property, incurs a ground rent of 18s 0d per annum - £0.90p – this amount has not been increased.

Under The Limitation Act I am legally only obliged to pay you a maximum of 6 years arrears of rent change. Therefore I enclose a cheque in the sum of £5.40p in full and final settlement of this debt up to and including 24th March 2004.

I look forward to receiving an invoice for future amounts to the above address in due course.

I enclose a stamped addressed envelope for you to send me receipt.

Yours faithfully

i never got another demand for more than the original sum

poppyblue_3

Thanks for replying.

The letter looks great and it is reassuring to know that they left you alone after that. I have read loads of horror stories on internet today about freeholders claiming thousands for works done on leasehold properties so I will send a similar letter and hope that it ends there. Again Thanks For This.

Richard_Webster

Poppyblue, I've just Pm'd you but hadn't seen Clutton's reply - certainly do as she suggests. I would still try asking for the freehold and see what they say.

shack82

I to have had problem with Ladybrook. They charge me 50 pounds a year for ground rent. I have no problem paying them. But what dose annoy me is that the never reply to any of my letters, I have sent a number of letters first asking for it in writing that they own the land and for there contact details e.g. phone number. Secondly, regarding an over due final reminder letter that was sent to me in error. But I got no response.

I’m starting to wounded if this is a con, it seems very strange that a company refuse to provide contact numbers or email in this day and age and insist on communication via snail mail. In my last letter I stated I would not pay any more rent until I was sure they hold the lease and until they provide me with contact info.

I’m I doing the right thing, should I just pay. Or am I been conned help please

Regards

clutton_2

have you looked at the lease ? is the rent in the lease £50 ?

i have a phone number for them, but, there are "menu" options and you always get cut off !!!!

can't your solicitor tell you who the leaseholder is when you bought the property ?

Kevin_Miller_2

I am unable to remortgage for one of my clients because Ladybrook Securities will not reply to my solicitors. Do's anybody have a contact number.

puddy

how did you buy the property without knowing who the landlord was? surely thats all done when your solicitor does his bit?

theres rules about wht landlords have to provide in writing if they want money from you, you should have your lease, they should provide you with accounts and detailed invoices

tbs624

I'm amazed that this firm's name still seems to crop up so often. The MP for Bury North apparently raised a query on their methods(along with other ground LLs) around 10 years ago. Maybe it's time someone got a group of relevant property owners jointly organised?

clutton_2

why not try to play them at their own game and send them a cheque and a letter such as the one i outline above and send them 0.75p claiming that this is what your original lease says and let them prove that you owe them more than that.

if they do not produce a lease then - how can they prove what you owe them ? - They will have to take you to court to get funds they "allege" you owe ...... - and if they DO have the original lease and it does say 0.75p there is no way they will take you to court for such a piffling amount of money

call their bluff

victor21

I am currently having an issue with Ladybrook securities, having moved in to my flat in January.

Is it possible for someone to 'own the rent charges' on a property without actually owning the freehold?

After receiving a letter demanding £3.50 rent, and £70 for late payment (this was the first letter i had) i searched on the land registry website and found the freehold, but this belongs to a totally different company. I wrote to Ladybrook saying i would be happy to pay, but i didn't beleive they owned the freehold, they wrote back saying they don't own the freehold, but a rent charge over it.

i didn't think this was possible, has anyone had this kind of problem?