Can we challenge retirement flat letting fees?

Retirement flats with signs showing ground rent, subletting, annual and pet fees

by Readers Question

12:01 AM, 21st September 2026, 3 weeks ago 10

Categories:

Landlord News leasehold Lettings & Management

Hi, My sister has inherited a retirement flat that is impossible to sell and the running costs are expensive. We have decided to rent the flat to help with the costs.

However, the leaseholder, who already charges each of the 82 flats £600 a year ground rent, wants £125 to grant permission to sublet plus a £115 annual and an £80 fee for permission to keep a pet and the whole of the first month’s rent of £1,150.

In all, they want an initial payment of £1,505.

My question is: is this legal to charge so much money to rent a leasehold apartment?

I can sort of understand the admin fees but the first months rent seems way over the top and what might/could happen if I refuse to hand over the rent?

Thank you,

Eric

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Tags: Consent to Let, inherited property, landlord costs, leasehold charges, retirement flat, Subletting fees

John

Member Since January 2021 - Comments: 30

12:09 PM, 21st September 2026, About 3 weeks ago

They are simply legalised robbers

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Jill Church

Member Since February 2024 - Comments: 92

1:29 PM, 21st September 2026, About 3 weeks ago

Suggest you refer to the lease itself. I believe Leaseholder can only request first months rent in these circumstances if it is clearly stated in lease. Same applies to other charges you mention, although think those are pretty standard.

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Stella Read Full Bio

Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 653

8:33 PM, 21st September 2026, About 3 weeks ago

I think that the leasehold advisory service would advise you on this. This service was free for leaseholders and I think it still is.

Their contact number is 02078322500 and you can book a free consultation

They were initially set up by the government to advise freeholders and leaseholders but the conservatives changed all that and now they only advise leaseholders.

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joe bloggs

Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 725 - Articles: 1

11:39 PM, 21st September 2026, About 3 weeks ago

read the lease! unlikely it allows those charges. are the agents firstport? who is the freeholder?

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Eric Power

Member Since October 2021 - Comments: 3

10:45 AM, 22nd September 2026, About 3 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Joe Bloggs at 21/09/2026 – 23:39

Yes first port are the managing agents and e & m are the freeholder,

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joe bloggs

Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 725 - Articles: 1

6:48 PM, 22nd September 2026, About 3 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Eric Power at 22/09/2026 – 10:45
I dont pay any sublet fees yearly as my leases dont allow for this! I have 4 fp/ e and m flats in two developments.

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Eric Power

Member Since October 2021 - Comments: 3

2:13 PM, 23rd September 2026, About 3 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Joe Bloggs at 22/09/2026 – 18:48
Hi Jo

Thanks for the information. The flat was purchased in 1998 from McCarthy Stone who sold out to First Port at some stage but request for a copy of the head lease from First Port is not being very successful. Tried Land Registry but they do not hold a lease for the flat. Any further advice would be appreciated.

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joe bloggs

Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 725 - Articles: 1

9:41 PM, 25th September 2026, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Eric Power at 23/09/2026 – 14:13
are you saying there is no lease for the flat? if there is a lease then LR will have it. im confused. not sure why you refer to the head lease.

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Eric Power

Member Since October 2021 - Comments: 3

9:39 AM, 27th September 2026, About 2 weeks ago

Hi Jo Tried a couple of websites such as Property Checker and although our flat is listed when you click on the flat number it states ‘unable to find matching title’. On land registry the only items available to purchase and download are the title register and the boundary lines. When asking the warden for help she said you should have a copy of the head lease from your solicitor, which is why I mentioned head lease in my message. I might have found a way of obtaining a lease from Land Registry by filling in form OC2, posting it to Land Registry with a cheque for £11 which I have now done and hopefully it might prove successful.

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joe bloggs

Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 725 - Articles: 1

5:25 PM, 27th September 2026, About 2 weeks ago

I wouldnt ask the warden for legal advice! you should hold the lease not the head lease. there may not be a head lease if the landlord is the freeholder. surely when you purchased your solicitor gave you the lease.
once youve got the lease you will be in a better position.

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