Letter from Freeholder

[CheshireDGS]

Please could somebody help explain to me what my rights are as a Leaseholder on a 900 year lease.

The freehold to my property was recently sold, we where given the option to buy it but as I only pay £15 a year I thought it pointless to pay over the odds.

Yesterday we received a letter from the freeholder stating that our rear extension and conservatory where built “otherwise in accordance with our lease” and that we had not requested the permission of the freeholder to do so.

I own this property so why does the freeholder have the right to demand money from me for an extension and conservatory I have paid to had built.

The company is called Trivium Land but I can’t find a telephone number for them anywhere, not even on their website!! Www.triviumland.co.uk

They are demanding that I pay a variation fee to update the lease and want £160 for the extension and £90 for the conservatory. They say if I do not pay it may be a breach of the lease.

[ostell]

You have a lease on the property for xxx years, you don't actually own it. The freeholder still owns the land and a condition of the lease is you inform them of changes.

[Scot22]

I sympathise but the freeholder owns the property, not you. You have paid for the right to live there subject to the lease. Not intending to offend but have you read the lease ?
What you have done will have added value and freeholder is entitled to benefit. The charges appear reasonable so I would pay and finish the matter. Otherwise there is a risk of expensive legal action which I think you would lose.
More knowledgeable people may come along. I may be wrong.

[CheshireDGS]

I must admit that the whole Leasehold vs Freehold thing wasn’t 100% clear to me before this whole debacle but I can’t help feeling the Freeholder is being unfair.

They are even asking for the same payment from a neighbour who’s property has had the attic converted into a bedroom despite the conversion happening years before my neighbour bought the property.

[ostell]

That's why the government are trying to rein in the leaseholder system

[CheshireDGS]

Thanks for your answers, much appreciated.