Hello all,
I wonder if someone can help me, I own a flat that I currently rent out with no issues.
I bought the flat 2 years ago and was informed that there was a peppercorn ground rent of £5 p/a, but this had never been collected since the property was converted to flats in 1983. The landlord had been declared 'absentee' as a result. As such my solicitors took out an absentee landlord indemnity policy just in case, and a buildings indemnity policy to allow me to look after the fabric of the building were my fellow leaseholder not to.
Since buying the property I have heard nothing more about it. Until this letter, which states:
"We write to you regarding an outstanding debt on the property that you currently reside in and would in the first instance request that you contact us upon receipt of this letter as a matter of urgency as there is a debt on the above property for which we have received a county court judgement.
Our next course of action is to continue through the courts to the extent that forfeiture will be gained regarding this property and ultimately the ownership of the property could be returned to us.
To you, this will result in you having to find alternative accommodation.
Etc etc."
Now, as far as I am aware there has been no forfeiture as there has been no request... Looking at the land registry the original house was once party to a freehold/leasehold agreement back in 1911 with different people/companies but the current flat is party to this peppercorn agreement with a named man who obviously converted the property in 1983.
I am going to call them in the morning but have been trying to dig around a little. The letter doesn't even state what this debt is about, but the only reference I can find on this company (no website ) is various threads on consumer websites about their dodgy tactics, specifically to do with ground rent so I have put 2 and 2 together...the letter gives nothing away! If they are not forthcoming/helpful I'm tempted to refer them directly to my solicitor who has the insurance paperwork etc I think.
There was even a House of Commons debate about 'ground rent grazers' about 10 yrs back naming them specifically.
I guess I just wondered if there was anyone out there who knew abything about this sort of thing? I have no objection to paying £5 per year ground rent at all, but I would object to paying it a company I've never heard of, have no paperwork with etc. If I pay them ground rent surely they then have responsibilities towards me as a leaseholder etc? Surely there must be paperwork, not just this final-seeming demand?
Stress!
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Legal matters
Shenstone Properties...ground rent demand?
MrsC2010 · 29/04/2010 08:25
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Message withdrawn at poster's request.
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GRHMWATSON · 25/11/2022 21:24
Please read my comment of 13/3/2017.
I contacted Shenstone regarding buying my leasehold in 2019 and was quoted £1,500.
I asked if they would accept less but “No” was the answer so I had to suck it up and sometime in 2019 I sent a cheque for that amount which was cashed.
After 1 year and not hearing anything, I called them and was told the delay was because the Covid outbreak had caused a delay with the Land Registry.
Same thing has happened in 2021 and, as of writing (Nov. 2022) still not received the Deeds——-over 3 yrs!
Not a particularly good company to deal with.
I’ll call them ASAP.
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