CAN I CHALLENGE A GROUND RENT INCREASE?

Fri 21 Oct 2016

"Ground Rent" is the term used to describe rent payable under a long lease, i.e. one granted for more than 21

years)

Historically ground rent could be paid in goods rather than coin, for example livestock, seed or grain or even

flowers!

Currently there are no restrictions on long-leasehold ground rent increases. However, under section 166 of the

Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 a landlord of a dwelling with a long lease must demand payment of ground

rent in writing using a special form and the leaseholder is not required to pay until this is done.

It is therefore unlikely that you can challenge the increase but you don't have to pay until the landlord has

followed the correct prodedure to request payment.