Lease Issues (Ground Rent)

[Curdster]

I own a lease hold flat and was very surprised to find a bill for the ground rent for £200 and then a further subsequent bill for £500. When I question this I was advised that a rent review had taken place and the ground rent was now £100 per half year, up from £20. The £500 was that they had back dated the review but had forgotten to advise me as an owner.
I understand that a ground rent review was in the lease, but should I have to pay out for the inefficiencies of the freeholder not getting their act together at the review date? I am obviously trying to get out of paying the £500 but do I have a leg to stand on?

[Noel]

Was there a rent review procedure set out in the lease? Have a read and see what notification was required and what rights you have to challenge it.

[Curdster]

Noel. Yes there was a rent review but this was supposed to have been undertaken in 2006/7. Nothing happened, and I continued to pay the ground rent on demand as usual without any rise. However the £500 they are now asking for is to claim for the review they carried out but forgot to bill for.
My guess is that they did not carry out the review as per the lease, left it until now (2009), completed the reivew and then tried to back date it to match the review date in the lease.
Still not sure if they can do this, and if I have to cough up.

[M400 NBL]

Wouldn't the deeds be changed if ground rent was increased? Surely if there are no changes to the deeds from when you purchased until now, the freeholder cannot expect an increase.

If the deeds were changed without your knowledge though, I have no idea whether the freeholder is entitled to back date ground rent.

I think I paid less than £10 for a copy of my deeds from the land registry. It may be worth paying for them (pfd downloaded) to at least check..and use against the freeholder if there is no increase in the ground rent.

You could check out landlordzone. There must be a smiliar topic on the forums there.