National Trust tenants face huge rent rises

THE National Trust has told hundreds of tenants in leasehold properties that they face dramatic ground rent increases of up to 10,000 per cent.

One 87-year-old man was reportedly told his payments will go up from £148 to £15,000 per year, prompting the Tenants Association of the National Trust to demand an inquiry.

The organisation has 5,000 homes on its land, which house more than 10,000 people, most of which are rented out at a monthly rate, but some were bought upfront as leaseholds, normally of 49 years with a nominal ground rent. But when they have come to extend the lease, they have been told they can either accept an increased charge or pay tens of thousands to buy up the higher ground rent, The Times reported. For the 87-year-old, that would have meant £78,000. Around 300 people are affected. Recently, ministers pledged to ban “feudal” leases with quickly escalating ground rents, which are increasingly being used on new build homes.

A spokesman for the National Trust said some long leasehold tenants had not been aware of how “Modern Ground Rents” work and the trust is “working to find a fair solution”, with a 50 per cent reduction in “relevant cases”.

It added: “We know that some leaseholders feel they have been misled as to the impact of modern ground rent. If we are satisfied that that has happened then we will consider foregoing modern ground rent altogether.”