Frequently Asked Questions
What is a ground rent?
Who are you?
Why do I have to pay it?
What happens if I don't pay?
Can I buy my ground rent?
Why are there restrictions on what I can do with my property?
Can I let my property?
Can I alter my property?
I am looking to sell my property
I have made an enquiry but have yet to receive a response
Block Management & Service Charges
I haven't received a bill
Can I pay online
We have paid the rent already
Payment options
Can I pay in person
Can I pay by standing order
You have the wrong information
I have sold the property in question
I live at the property in question but am not the owner
I have just bought a property and there are arrears from the former owner
How can I extend my lease
Insurance Queries
What do I do if a former owner has altered my property
How long is left on my lease
Why has my ground rent increased
What are the benefits to buying my freehold
I am finding it difficult to pay my ground rent
Ground rent is a sum paid, usually yearly, to your Landlord who is the owner of the land on which your property is built. Your lease will have full details of the amount of ground rent, when it is due, how long your lease is and other obligations you are bound by. If you would like a copy of your lease please click here.
We are a large specialist ground rent management company. Many landlords across the country use us to collect and administer their ground rent portfolios. Their combined portfolios run into tens of thousands of properties.
You have to pay ground rent as you do not own the land that your property is built on but instead you have a lease on it for which you pay rent. If you do not pay your ground rent, or break other terms of your lease, your property may be at risk. If you would like a copy of your lease to review its terms please click here.
If you don't pay, within the allowed timescale, we will send reminder(s) and if we do not receive payment after this we will add administration costs to cover additional work. You may also be charged interest on outstanding amounts. The longer it takes for us to collect the more costs we will incur and have to recharge you. Should you have financial difficulties and be unable to make full payment please click here.
If you live in a house you can buy your freehold. There are a number of benefits to this to including being released from your yearly obligation to pay ground rent, not having to pay for consents should you wish to do anything to your property and freehold property is much more attractive to buyers to quote a few. Should you wish to enquire about buying your freehold from us please click here.
Why are there restrictions on what I can do with my property?
The lease on your property will contain certain restrictions on what you can do with the property. This may include alterations/extensions, pets, satellite dishes, letting consents and potentially a large number of other items. Your lease will detail all restrictions to obtain a copy please click here.
If you are looking to let your property consent may be required and there may be terms for you to adhere to. In order for us to check your lease and let you know any conditions you are bound by please click here to apply.
If you are looking to alter your property consent may be required and there may be terms for you to adhere to. Examples of alterations include extensions (including lofts), conservatories, new windows, boundary walls, gates, removal of internal or external walls, garage conversions and a number of other items. In order for us to check your lease and let you know any conditions you are bound by please click here to apply.
I am looking to sell my property
If you are looking to sell your property please arrange for your solicitor to liaise with us, as the freeholders appointed agent, with all enquiries. If there are arrears on your account they will have to be paid prior to your property being sold.
I have made an enquiry but have yet to receive a response
Although we aim to answer all enquiries as quickly as possible sometimes there can be problems at either end with the internet. Please click here to resubmit your enquiry.
Block Management & Service Charges
We do not deal directly with Block Management & Service Charges but, in most instances, are able to provide information on who to contact. Please click here to email us to request this information.
We have a very advanced, automated, computer system which produces all our bills. If you haven't had a bill it may have been lost in the post. Alternatively, if you have moved home we may not have your new address. If you would like an account balance please click here. If you would like to update your details please click here
We are able to take card payments online. Please note: if you try and pay the wrong balance your payment will be rejected and a charge made to your account for administration. Should you wish to confirm your balance before making payment please click here and we will email it to you.
If you believe you have already paid please check the rent was paid to us and not any other company. If you believe the rent was please forward evidence of this and we will investigate. Without any evidence we will be unable to remove any amounts from your account.
We are able to take payments by cheque, postal order or by card (via website). We are unable to accept cash payments.
Our offices are not open to the public therefore we are unable to take face to face payments. Please see our payment options (above) for further help.
No.
You have the wrong information
If you believe we have the wrong information, on any part of your account, please email usto let us know what information needs amending. We will check this and amend our records.
I have sold the property in question
If you have sold the property and the sale has completed please email us details of the property in order for us to amend our records. If your sale hasn't yet completed your solicitor will need to speak to us to obtain consent for your sale.
I live at the property in question but am not the owner
Please forward us details of the landlord who you rent the property from in order that we can correctly invoice them.
I have just bought a property and there are arrears from the former owner
Ground rent is attached to the property rather than the owner. When you bought the property your solicitor should have checked for outstanding ground rent arrears from the former owner. Please click here to amend your details with us.
If you live in a flat, and would like to extend your lease, you will need to make an application to us. Please click here to do so.
If you live in a flat we may be responsible for arranging your buildings insurance. You may also find that we will, in some cases, invoice your for insurance.
What do I do if a former owner has altered my property
If a former owner has altered your property you will need to ascertain that they have obtained the relevant permission. If you do not have consent you could be in breach of your lease and your property could become very difficult to sell. We are able to issue consents retrospectively to resolve this issue. Please click here to email us details of work carried out in order that we can check our records.
Dependent upon when your lease started and how long it was initially for, will depend how long you have left on it. If you have a copy of your lease you will be able to ascertain this information. If you would like a copy of your lease please click here.
Why has my ground rent increased
If your ground rent has increased it will be due to the fact that your lease includes provisions for the rent to be reviewed and, therefore, increase at set intervals. If you would like to find out when your rent is due to increase and by what pattern please consult your lease. If you would like a copy of your lease please click here.
What are the benefits to buying my freehold
There are a number of benefits to this including: being released from your yearly obligation to pay ground rent, not having to pay for consents should you wish to do anything to your property and freehold property is much more attractive to buyers to quote a few. Should you wish to enquire about buying your freehold from us please click here.
I am finding it difficult to pay my ground rent
If you are having trouble making payment we should be able to work out a solution to help. Please click here to contact us.
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