Ground rent notice not received by 18 lease holders?

Ground rent notice not received by 18 lease holders?

10:23 AM, 21st September 2022, About 2 years ago 32

Text Size

Long story short, we had a new landlord who was late sending the march ground rent out and 18 leaseholders did not receive it. We did not know who the new landlord was or any payment details.

We made a joint complaint to PDC (property debt collection) who very quickly got involved and even asked our local MP. A year on all but me were forced into paying £925 to stop their credit score from being affected and to end the bullying.

I have now found that this is a scam in order for PDC to produce and print cash.https://thepropertyagentscam.wordpress.com/2020/11/06/the-service-charge-debt-collection-scam/

I will not be bullied into paying this with all the evidence I had supplied and a financial disclosure.

How do I get them off my back? I never refused to pay it but the landlord refused to discuss the matter and told me to talk to PDC direct. I have submitted a financial disclosure and a lot of evidence, which they disregarded and now what to force me to sell my flat to pay this debt.

Many thanks

Nina


Share This Article


Comments

Judith Wordsworth

10:58 AM, 21st September 2022, About 2 years ago

Check your lease for actual wording re payment of ground rent.

Usually it is “legally demanded or not” so your responsibility to pay the ground rent even if not asked for it

JB

11:07 AM, 21st September 2022, About 2 years ago

Try contacting Bernie Wales for help with this

BernieW

11:40 AM, 21st September 2022, About 2 years ago

It is always worth checking that the service charge demand and/or ground rent notice is in a legal form, in accordance with the law and regulations. Just because you're being chased for 'a debt' doesn't mean that debt actually exists - and if the documentation sent by the landlord/agent is invalid for whatever reason, the debt doesn't exist.

Leasehold Lesson 6 refers > https://berniewales.co.uk/leasehold-lessons-live/

Katiejane13uk

16:32 PM, 21st September 2022, About 2 years ago

Hi Nina
I'm so sorry you are experiencing the bully boy tactics that many freeholders use. Its a feudal system that we have been fighting for many years. You are not alone. Can I suggest you join the National Leasehold Campaign on Facebook. We have over 24,000 members many of them with issues just like yours. We must stand up to these bullies that use our homes against us.

'The law requires the landlord to send you a demand in a prescribed form before you are liable to pay ground rent. You are not liable to pay ground rent unless the landlord has sent the demand in the correct form.'

Can I also suggest you contact the Leaseholders Chairty 'Leasehold Knoweldge Partnership' (LKP). They are an incredible charity for leaseholders to turn to help.

Regards

Katie Kendrick

Nina noke

21:12 PM, 21st September 2022, About 2 years ago

Thank you for all the replies .initially I had no contact details for the new landlord and no account details to pay the groundrent .it just went straight to a debt collector .grangeford ,who we later found to have bought the freehold v cheap
, refused to discuss the matter and palmed me off with solely negotiating with the debt collectors. I had previously always paid my ground rent and never refused to pay this.however with no ref number and bank details I was over a barrell.as were 18 other leaseholders.we all sent a joint email to pdc.complained to the ombudsman and have tried everything. They also said they emailed the groundrent .but they sent it to an incorrect email address. Another leaseholder had hers sent to the wrong flat number and the wrong email address.and she was forced to pay.another sent a cheque and they returned that saying they did not accept cheques and that dispute is on going .
they say I was in breach and they want the full £1095 .but how could I have paid the original bill when i never receuved it and had no details.the fact that 18 other leaseholders also never got there's is beyond a coincidence.
I did receive another bill for the next groundrent 6 months later.that had the payment details and ref number.i paid this less the huge charge .they returned it and added £35 to my bill for "ADMIN" CHARGES .
I ACTUALLY paid them twice and they returned it twice .with a total of £75 added.
This is just licence to print money .and I'm not backing down....please help.im not sleeping and I have had all the issue with cladding de valuing the flat.so I can't even sell it if I wanted to.

Nina noke

21:19 PM, 21st September 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 21/09/2022 - 10:58Impossible to pay when the new landlord does not supply a ref number or an account to pay it into.they refused to give these details or discuss the matter i was intructed to pay the debt and only communicate my grievances through pdc....who frankly weren't interested.

Nina noke

21:25 PM, 21st September 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by at 21/09/2022 - 16:32
That's the problem. Other leaseholders received there bill in the correct form.18 of us never received a paper bill whatsoever or an email.
I have been fighting this the last year.i have received some great bono advise adding that the fact 18 leaseholders were ripped off then this would not bow well in court.but as I cannot afford a solicitor I'm stuffed

Nina noke

21:26 PM, 21st September 2022, About 2 years ago

That's the problem. Other leaseholders received there bill in the correct form.18 of us never received a paper bill whatsoever or an email.
I have been fighting this the last year.i have received some great bono advise adding that the fact 18 leaseholders were ripped off then this would not bow well in court.but as I cannot afford a solicitor I'm stuffed

Nina noke

21:46 PM, 21st September 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by BernieW at 21/09/2022 - 11:40
Can I directly send your the formal complaint that multiple leaseholders submitted about this ground rent scam please...I'm desperate.

JB

9:25 AM, 22nd September 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Nina noke at 21/09/2022 - 21:12
Nina, if the freehold was sold it should have been offered to the leaseholders first under the 'Right of First Refusal'. If none of the leaseholders were eligible then this process doesn't need to be followed - but that sounds unlikely as there are a lot of leasholders involved. You can check this out with the leashold advisory service:

https://www.google.com/search?q=lease+advice+organisation&oq=lease+advice&aqs=chrome.4.69i57j0i512l9.8369j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

There is lots of infomation here and you can book a consultation which is free. They are very helpful and shold be able to help with everything you mention.

1 2 3 4

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now