Not paying ground rent?
Discussion
I bought my house aroun6 16 years ago, and every year without fail I get a request through the post for £25 ground rent. Payable by cheque, and the company it is to be paid to seems to change every year or two.
I have never paid this, (I don't even have a cheque book any more!) and there has never been a phone number for whatever company are requesting the £25 to contact them and pay over the phone, nor bank details for a transfer.
My neighbours get the same letters, and pay every year.
Is there a reason that nobody has threatened me with court, or any other action? They just seem to ignore the fact that I haven't paid, then another letter will come through next year.
It seems odd, I would expect a threatening letter at least! My lease is for 999 years...
I have never paid this, (I don't even have a cheque book any more!) and there has never been a phone number for whatever company are requesting the £25 to contact them and pay over the phone, nor bank details for a transfer.
My neighbours get the same letters, and pay every year.
Is there a reason that nobody has threatened me with court, or any other action? They just seem to ignore the fact that I haven't paid, then another letter will come through next year.
It seems odd, I would expect a threatening letter at least! My lease is for 999 years...
Whilst my house is a 'Freehold' I get a request every year to pay £6 for upkeep of sharedspaces???
The previous owner never paid it..... and like you I never get chased for it? I swear it's just one of those random covenants that people ignore. My house was built in 1935 so no doubt it's been in it since then!
The previous owner never paid it..... and like you I never get chased for it? I swear it's just one of those random covenants that people ignore. My house was built in 1935 so no doubt it's been in it since then!
Around 1969 for my house I think - and even if they did demand all the outstanding ground rent, surely anything past 6 years would be statute barred?
It's not that I am not paying it out of principle or anything, they seem to deliberately make it hard to pay, so I don't bother. Just curious as to why nothing has ever been done about it!
It's not that I am not paying it out of principle or anything, they seem to deliberately make it hard to pay, so I don't bother. Just curious as to why nothing has ever been done about it!
If you don't pay it for 7 years then legal title reverts to the Freeholder and you will be evicted,
also any belongings inside will automatically become property of the freeholder. You will then be sold in to slavery or possibly sent to work in the salt mines in Siberia (check your lease for details of which). None of the above is true, i made it all up, its a slow day !!
also any belongings inside will automatically become property of the freeholder. You will then be sold in to slavery or possibly sent to work in the salt mines in Siberia (check your lease for details of which). None of the above is true, i made it all up, its a slow day !!
All fun and games until someone buys the freehold out from underneath you 
Its a lazy freeholder who is just sending letters on the offchance you will pay, or because most do, by cheque, with added budgie seed.
Its really remarkably easy to collect, as if you don't pay, letter #2 should be copied to the mortgage company, and letter #3 straight to them, asking for payment, which they will do, adding it to your mortgage balance.
Its a lazy freeholder who is just sending letters on the offchance you will pay, or because most do, by cheque, with added budgie seed.
Its really remarkably easy to collect, as if you don't pay, letter #2 should be copied to the mortgage company, and letter #3 straight to them, asking for payment, which they will do, adding it to your mortgage balance.
They've never bothered doing anything of the sort - and I think I could cope with £150 being added to my mortgage balance! It is a large development, so perhaps they just couldn't be bothered provided "most" people pay - £25 a year lost is hardly going to put them out of business.
A bit odd the way the company asking for it seem to change so regularly - is this just a management agency, or is the freehold itself actually changing hands? They are always reasonably local (Northern Ireland), so not some multinational company - maybe they just don't give a sh
it!
A bit odd the way the company asking for it seem to change so regularly - is this just a management agency, or is the freehold itself actually changing hands? They are always reasonably local (Northern Ireland), so not some multinational company - maybe they just don't give a sh
it!guindilias said:
Ah, you had me all excited there for a second! At least I would like an unpleasant letter from a made-up debt collection company...
Send me your address and I'll knock up something suitably official looking and send it to you in about 3 months time so you have forgotten all about this thread and will think its genuineboyse7en said:
Send me your address and I'll knock up something suitably official looking and send it to you in about 3 months time so you have forgotten all about this thread and will think its genuine
If I send you my office number, will you ring and leave messages with my colleagues about how you're going to repossess my house, as well? I need them to look DOWN at me, even more than they already do... guindilias said:
boyse7en said:
Send me your address and I'll knock up something suitably official looking and send it to you in about 3 months time so you have forgotten all about this thread and will think its genuine
If I send you my office number, will you ring and leave messages with my colleagues about how you're going to repossess my house, as well? I need them to look DOWN at me, even more than they already do... AM COMIN' FOR YO KNEECAPS!
Yours
[Freeholding Incorporated]"
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