Leaseholder didn’t send invoice now debt collectors are asking for money!

Leaseholder didn’t send invoice now debt collectors are asking for money!

0:03 AM, 13th July 2023, About 10 months ago 14

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Hi, my lease ground rent has a six-monthly payment schedule, from which the leaseholder should send an invoice for the amount due. They have missed the last 2 invoices ( I haven’t received them via post) and, the first I heard about it was that the debt collection agency PDC issued a demand for the debt to be paid, plus a load of other costs, almost doubling the amount due.

I have no issue with the amount owed, but what I am not happy with is the additional costs, and the fact that I didn’t receive the invoices! I have always paid the ground rent on time, and as I was not sent these last 2 invoices, the payments were never made. Also, the leaseholder did not reach out via any alternative communication (either emails/calls/more letters) when these payments were missed, and now the debt is with PDC who are chasing me for the monies and extras!

Do I have any way of not paying the extras? I have asked PDC for proof that I received the invoices, but I am not sure what else I can do.

Does anyone have any advice, or have dealt with similar?

Thank you!

Alex


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Comments

Kizzie

16:23 PM, 14th July 2023, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Blodwyn at 14/07/2023 - 15:14
And must be reasonable, underwritten in all leases. If you are taken to the Small Claims Court then dispute on grounds there was no letter before action allowing you remedy and Claimant not provided evidence they had tried to contact you and as they had served Notice of Ground Rent before then it appears to have been allegedly unreasonably withheld for the purpose of achieving extra income from legal fees

Blodwyn

16:29 PM, 14th July 2023, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Kizzie at 14/07/2023 - 16:23
Be careful that you are not asked by any District Judge in any Case Management Meeting if you are alleging dishonesty as that will take you off the Small Claims regime and expose you to costs?
I have been retired for some years and doubtless out of date but worth checking if still the consequence?

Fergus Wilson

15:01 PM, 29th September 2023, About 8 months ago

You are the Lessee not the Lessor.

You should pay the Ground Rent in due time,

I suggest you pay it annually in advance clearly indicating the period in question,

You are the Leaseholder not the Freeholder,

The Freeholder is sometimes called the Superior Landlord.

There is no defence to not paying the Ground Rent.

So always pay it promptly!

Kizzie

20:13 PM, 29th September 2023, About 8 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Fergus Wilson at 29/09/2023 - 15:01Ground rent payment is not contingent on receipt of the demand, nor is service charge due under provisions of your lease.
However GR has to be properly demanded in accordance with statutory form Commonhold & Leasehold reform act section 166 payable to the Lessor aka landlord named in your lease with its registered address for service of notices and failure to pay means risk of forfeiture of your lease.
I would be concerned over lack of gr demands and whether properly demanded as above and if gr was actually paid to the lessor.
Under most leases legal costs relating to section 146 LPA 1925 forfeiture are Administration charges also under CLRA and must be reasonable and demanded separately served with leaseholders rights and obligations under Section 19 and only payable to the Landlord.
Pay the GR made out to the Lessor named in your lease by recorded delivery and request evidence under section 21 and 21A ofLTA 1985 all GR had been paid to the Lessor, your legal right and quote the covenants regarding GR and service of Section 146 in your lease a legally binding contract

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