Landlord problem on leasehold flat
Discussion
My Mum owns a studio flat on a 99 year lease in a block of about 4 flats and a commercial unit which she bought as a buy to let. She’s just found out that the landlord has done a bunk and left no forwarding address. In fact she doesn’t even know if he still owns the freehold or if he’s sold it. She knows he was trying to offload it a couple of years back but is not sure if he ever did.
There’s been no demand for ground rent or maintenance for nearly two years now so the communal areas of the building have just been abandoned basically.
The person living at his old address says she has heard from neighbours that he was a bit of a rouge trader.
So how does she go about finding who owns the freehold now and if it’s still him, how to track him down?
She hasn’t contacted any of the other leaseholders in the building yet. Should she?
There’s been no demand for ground rent or maintenance for nearly two years now so the communal areas of the building have just been abandoned basically.
The person living at his old address says she has heard from neighbours that he was a bit of a rouge trader.
So how does she go about finding who owns the freehold now and if it’s still him, how to track him down?
She hasn’t contacted any of the other leaseholders in the building yet. Should she?
You can download the Official Copies of the title here for £2
www.landregisteronline.gov.uk/lro/landing.htm
You'll need to look for the freehold title - expect to see four leasehold titles and the freehold title. This will show you the current owner of the property and the address given to the LR at the time (this may of course be your mum's freeholder at the address she has).
With regard to insurance - it will be the Landlord's responsibility to insure and you're mum's responsibility to pay (usually) - the tenant's insuring the property can get tricky. You really need proper advice based on the lease.
The freeholder may have a charge on the property and the details of this will be shown on the LR details - you could always contact the mortgage co as a last resort and start muttering about lack of insurance - they might have some other contact details for him!!
Good luck - post more if you want more help.
edited to say arse - must learn to type faster!!
>> Edited by Piglet on Wednesday 11th January 19:03
www.landregisteronline.gov.uk/lro/landing.htm
You'll need to look for the freehold title - expect to see four leasehold titles and the freehold title. This will show you the current owner of the property and the address given to the LR at the time (this may of course be your mum's freeholder at the address she has).
With regard to insurance - it will be the Landlord's responsibility to insure and you're mum's responsibility to pay (usually) - the tenant's insuring the property can get tricky. You really need proper advice based on the lease.
The freeholder may have a charge on the property and the details of this will be shown on the LR details - you could always contact the mortgage co as a last resort and start muttering about lack of insurance - they might have some other contact details for him!!
Good luck - post more if you want more help.
edited to say arse - must learn to type faster!!
>> Edited by Piglet on Wednesday 11th January 19:03
The previous landlord is (I think) supposed to give notice of a proposed freehold sale to the tenants (as long as they are "qualifying tenants" - and they may not be). Not entirely sure what the ramifications are of that not being done. Probably no point pursuing.
Glad you've tracked the new owner down anyway.
Glad you've tracked the new owner down anyway.
Piglet said:
The previous landlord is (I think) supposed to give notice of a proposed freehold sale to the tenants (as long as they are "qualifying tenants" - and they may not be). Not entirely sure what the ramifications are of that not being done. Probably no point pursuing.
Glad you've tracked the new owner down anyway.
She did get a letter from his solicitor ages ago notifying of the intention to sell the freehold and asking if she was interested. Since none of the other tenants were interested in doing a share of freehold type purchase and, she did not want to take on the freehold for the whole building herself, she didn't take up the offer.
However, there was no subsequent communication to say the freehold had been sold to someone else so she had no idea whether he changed his mind and kept it or had sold it on. Evidently he found a buyer.
The new landlords seem to be part of a pension company BTW. Anyone know what the background to that might be?
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