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, 1 month ago 12

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

Eric Power

Member Since October 2021 - Comments: 4

9:50 AM, 12th October 2026, About 1 week ago

Reply to the comment left by Joe Bloggs at 27/09/2026 – 17:25
Hi Jo managed to get a lease from Land Registry dated 30 Oc 98 with the property sold by McCarthy Stone. Unfortunately the lease does say in the Fifth Schedule that we have to pay a registration fee for sub letting and one months rent either the agreed rent or the market rent whichever is the higher.

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joe bloggs

Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 732 - Articles: 1

11:02 AM, 13th October 2026, About 1 week ago

Reply to the comment left by Eric Power at 12/10/2026 – 09:50
ALL SUCH PERMISSION FEES WILL BE CAPPED BY THE END OF YEAR ACCORDING TO LABOUR. AND YOU CAN TAKE THIS TO A TRIBUNAL. SEEMS UNREASONABLE.

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