I bought my house in 1992 and as far as I know I’ve never paid any ground rent. Out of the blue a letter has arrived from a firm stating that they acquired the freehold to my property in 2006. They are offering me the freehold for £250 plus a Land Registry charge. Is it worth buying it, and can they just pop up demanding money?
Yes, they can ask for up to six years’ back rent. Whether it’s worth buying the freehold depends on a number of factors, among them the amount of ground rent payable and the number of years the lease still has to run. There have been cases where the ground rent owners have made life very difficult for people in your position, so you should talk to your solicitor about the offer.