leasehold flat sub let now management company for new freeholder wants information...

[mrsalancarr]

I let my leasehold flat out, however the freehold was recently sold and is now being managed by a big company along with a service company (knew I should have pushed the other leaseholders to buy when we had the chance, its now one cost after another!!). They have now written to me assuming I have a different contact address to ask for a copy of the tenancy agreement, contact details for the tenants and myself (which they have) along with £100 +VAT for admin charges!! They say this is to issue their client (our freeholder?) a formal 'licence to sublet' for the period of 12 months, is this normal? Why do they want to see a copy of the tenancy agreement? Will they request a percentage of the rent next? I take it this is now a yearly charge on top of everything else?!! waaaahhhh

Thanks

It all depends what your lease says. If you need the consent of the freeholder to underlet then this is the licence they talk about. It will not be a yearly payment, just a one off each time you need their consent. If there is a requirement to get their consent you normally have to pay their reasonable fees in granting such consent (again see the lease or the summary of the lease which your solicitor should have drawn up for you).

I very much doubt your lease provides for them to take a percentage of the rent but again, everything should be within your lease.

Be careful! The new company sound like the sort that will bill you (and bill highly) for everything they can get away with. The most important thing to do is check the lease. It's very common for managing agents to charge leaseholders for sub-letting. And they'll try again if you change tenants. Some have tried charging for having pets! But they can only do this if it's in the lease. So check your lease carefully. It may take an hour or two to go through it line by line - but it'll be time well spent. Because you'll be well placed to contest any future sharp practices too. Good luck!