Updating post from Reddit.
Hi
Have had a flat for 20 years which has been on rent for 15 or so of those years.
Recently received a letter from the management company on behalf of the freeholder asking for a subletting fee of £120 on a yearly basis or £250 for the duration of the tenant's stay, with new fees required if there are new tenants.
Not sure how to navigate it as the current tenancy finishes in 4 months so paying a years' fee for them wouldnt be proportional, and I also dont know what their plans are for the future yet, whether or not they will be staying or moving on.
Has anyone dealt with this before? Is it legitimate and, if so, are those amounts typical for something of this nature?
What does your lease say about subletting and fees. That’s the only thing of relevance
Seconded.
Let us know, OP.
Checked the lease - it says I need to check with them before any sublet but makes no mention of any fee.
Thanks for the reply, I'll have a look and get back to you
Checked the lease - it says I need to check with them before any sublet but makes no mention of any fee.
If the leases do not mention a fee then none is payable no matter what they say. And if a fee is payable then the amount is according to the lease.
Might say that you are not allowed to sublet at all in which case you are in trouble.
Checked the lease - it says I need to check with them before any sublet but makes no mention of any fee.
What are the exact words - check, inform?
But otherwise tell them to get lost and ask them to refer to the part of the lease that permits a fee.
Exact wording was consent was required
It's not proportional at all; it's a rip-off. What are they doing about it? Nothing. However, if that is leasehold for you, it is very often a rip-off.
Whether you have to pay it or not comes down to the lease agreement. Your freeholder's management company may be trying to take advantage; check the lease to find out.