Ground Rent Company – Are they taking the mick?

Morrismagic

I have checked with my Management Company about renting out my flat and they have said that their insurance policy does not need to be amended if I rent out my flat but I should tell the Ground Rent people as they may need me to get consent from them to rent it out.

So I rang the Ground Rent Company and they have said yes I can do it but I need to pay them for their consent – roughly £100 a year – Surely they are taking the mick here? I pay my Ground Rent with no delay every time and I’m not asking them to do anything just say yes I can rent it out so I cant see how they can justify this fee? I asked them what this actually covers and they said its an administration fee – what a joke.

Anyone else had this?

Anyway rant over.

Muppit_2

Yeah that sounds really rough. The solicitor that deals with our freehold is always asking for admin fees but I guess a yes or no question doesnt take very long.

Owning a freehold would be a nice little money spinner, you have all the owners by the short and curlies and there doesnt seem much they can do about it unfortunately.

clutton_2

read the lease - these ground rent companies rely on folks not wanting to read an ancient lease - they cannot charge you anything which is not in the lease

tbs624

Clutton's point is a good one - basic procedure but not done by many

You might like to have a look here , on a similar point, as some of the replies are from a qualified solicitor: http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=73281.

iyiarz

Its not Cymru Investments or whatever they call themselves today, its it?

EDIT: No, it can't be, since you rang them.. Above has no phone number. They are a bunch of theiving bstrds and use any excuse possible to extort money money
They billed me £50 for an accidently bounced cheque, claiming the bank had charged them. I rang their bank and the don't charge. Needless to say, i sent a new cheque for the normal amount, with a stern letter! They backed down over the charges.

Morrismagic

Maybe I just wont tell them Sod them!