Leasehold problems

[210holman]

Im having trouble with the freeholder of my property. I havnt paid any ground rent for years as he/she wont send me an invoice of how much I owe. Theres also outstanding fees from the previous owner that they wont remove. I sent a cheque to them when I first moved in, they cashed it but I heard nothing of it.

I have sent loads of letters asking whats going on. This yearly fee covers buildings insurance and gardening. No gardening has ever been done! They also said to me when I actually managed to contact them that they didnt know I lived here and still had the old tenants names on the lease! I didnt think my mortgage would have went through if this wasnt correct.

Where can I go to get help? Is there anything I can do? Is there a place where this sort of thing is regulated. Thanks in advance

[Bigapps]

I would revert to the solicitor that did the conveyancing. Get this sorted before the freeholder registers a charge on your property. Hope you have a copy of all your letters to the freehold and hope you sent it by recorded delivery

[Eve]

The previous tenant's names probably are on the Lease but on your purchase your solicitors should, in most cases, have sent notice to the freeholders (if specified in the Lease) of the change of ownership/charge.

Maybe best to check whether or not they did as there could have been an address change or slip up but they should serve it properly if required. It's often a lender requirement as well.

Sometimes the lender takes on the responsibility, the solicitor is to send them the notice and then they send it on so best to check.

Your mortgage would have gone through regardless as the property was legally transferred to your name and the bank's security registered.

Check with the solicitors who did your conveyancing and if you don't get any help from them as regards the outstanding ground rent etc... try the local Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Make sure that the freeholders do have insurance in place.

As regards the arrears from the previous owner, this should have been sorted before you completed on your purchase. Your solicitor should have checked whether there were any ground rent arrears and obtained some kind of agreement for payment so check with them whether anything was done.

Make sure you keep copies of all letters you send and send them by recorded delivery.