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Dear All,
As a newbie here I would be very grateful for some help. In 2007 I purchased a house from DWH. Being a first time buyer I was unaware that although my house was freehold, the garage from this property was actually leasehold. The garage is 'separate' from my house being under a coach house on the estate.
Under the terms of the leasehold, I have to pay ground rent of £150 quid a year and a £71 service charge to a shady property management company called Solitaire
Because I have had an ongoing dispute with Solitaire over their service, I have paid nothing to date. I realise this is a mistake and I should have paid the ground rent. In December 2010, Solitaire contacted my mortgage company (Santander
) to note that they were owed payment from me. They got nothing. They had requested payment of 822.
Last week out of the blue I have been hit with a court proceedings letter for Northampton with Solitaire now suddenly asking for £1600 and I need help with what my next steps should be.
So far I have determined that I must pay all the backdated ground rent. The service charges is a completely different matter and I have never received full accounts of what these charges consist of - i.e. what work has been done and what I should pay. Instead I receive some confusing statements which are purely ******** because they mention electricity, gas, lighting which have nothing to do with my leasehold.
I would like to admit that I owe ground rent and would even pay the backdated #71 but there is no way I owe £1600. By my reckoning the £800 - 900 mark is nearer to the truth. Please can someone help. I have being trying to get from my original solicitors whether there is also a residents association which may help.
As a newbie here I would be very grateful for some help. In 2007 I purchased a house from DWH. Being a first time buyer I was unaware that although my house was freehold, the garage from this property was actually leasehold. The garage is 'separate' from my house being under a coach house on the estate.
Under the terms of the leasehold, I have to pay ground rent of £150 quid a year and a £71 service charge to a shady property management company called Solitaire
Because I have had an ongoing dispute with Solitaire over their service, I have paid nothing to date. I realise this is a mistake and I should have paid the ground rent. In December 2010, Solitaire contacted my mortgage company (Santander
) to note that they were owed payment from me. They got nothing. They had requested payment of 822.Last week out of the blue I have been hit with a court proceedings letter for Northampton with Solitaire now suddenly asking for £1600 and I need help with what my next steps should be.
So far I have determined that I must pay all the backdated ground rent. The service charges is a completely different matter and I have never received full accounts of what these charges consist of - i.e. what work has been done and what I should pay. Instead I receive some confusing statements which are purely ******** because they mention electricity, gas, lighting which have nothing to do with my leasehold.
I would like to admit that I owe ground rent and would even pay the backdated #71 but there is no way I owe £1600. By my reckoning the £800 - 900 mark is nearer to the truth. Please can someone help. I have being trying to get from my original solicitors whether there is also a residents association which may help.
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