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Howard-
Fortunately my lease is still the standard one signed in 1984. But if the previous owner had extended it informally the freeholder would - apart from trousering around £30k in non-refundable 'admin' fees - would've taken the opportunity to add a clause to increase the Ground Rent to £250PA basic which would increase every five years in line with the Retail Price Index. I know this because I've seen an informal extension offer. They're also known for trying to sneak additional clauses in outside the terms of what's informally agreed.
I'm extending via the statutory / formal Section 42 process in a year and a half's time. Fuck that noise.
ReekBlefs
Only if the council still own the freehold. Our freehold was auctioned off in 2010 and bought by the infamous Triplerose, who do exactly this, and seem depressingly successful at it too.