Any way of finding out about unexpired leasehold?

[M400 NBL]

I am in the process of selling my maisonette. It is a victorian conversion of which I am the lease holder and the basement maisonette is the free holder.

I bought it over 5 years ago and can't remember exactly how much lease is unexpired. I thought it was over 80 years but wanted to be sure before submitting the particulars to the EA.

I asked the EA that lets out the maisonette below to ask the question on my behalf and he has told me that the lease is 86 years unexpired and that ground rent/maintenance is £600 per year. When I bought it, the groundrent/maintenance was £50 per annum (not mistaken for £50 per month) and that was a good selling point for my place over others. This is the first I have heard of this new charge and wonder if it is because they are now trying to sell. It is a good selling point for the freeholder.

Can they increase ground rent/maint by this much without negotiating and is ther a way of finding out the lease just in case that has been changed also.

I know it was previously £50/annum because a friend bought the freehold maisonette and waivered it because I was the first point of contact if his tenant needed help. Also, the developer that bought before him waivered the £50 for a copy of my buildings insurance.

Any help would be much appreciated. I know that a solicitor would find this out but i'd rather know before getting that far down the line.

Thanks

Edit: It didn't think the thread had been posted.

Edited by M400 NBL on Thursday 26th April 10:43

[noel]

Are you confusing ground rent with service charge? The ground rent will be stipulated in your lease, the service charge will also be detailed in there and vary in accordance with the flucuating costs of maintaining your property each year. Ground rents do rise but it is generaly a small charge, 50 to 600 quid over a few years doesn't ring true.

You should have been sent a copy of your lease on completion, if not check with the solicitor who acted for you on the purchase, it's important to get proper advice and to do this it's essential to have read the lease since it governs the landlord and tenant relationship.

[M400 NBL]

Thanks Noel. I have requested a copy of the deeds from my mortgage lender.

I have a feeling that the vendor is trying it on. I don't remember there being a set monthly mainenance charge because it is not a block of flats. It's a 3 storey victorian villa of which I own (lease) the ground floor and first floor. I have never had any maintenance done on it in the 5+ years that i've lived there which I guess is the reason that maintenance will be paid as and when necessary.

Thanks for your reply.