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Sharkstar-
Good point! I misspoke, it's not actually ground rent, it's a "rentcharge". The difference being ground rents is paid by leaseholders and rentcharges are paid by freeholders. From https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rentcharges:
A rentcharge is an annual sum paid by a freehold homeowner to a third party who normally has no other interest in the property.
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Most rentcharges have existed for many centuries, and are part of an historic system whereby land owners who released part of their land for development could charge a regular payment from the people living on it.Probably some feudal lord instigated the charge and has passed this on to their descendants "Homeground Management Services"
Drakien
I'm in a freehold house but still have to pay (tiny) ground rent and (hefty) service charge for not much benefit. You live and learn though.