UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi everyone
I bought a leasehold studio flat in May with a sitting tenant I have since found out that I am subletting   at no point did the estate agent mention this subletting clause they were just interested in carrying on with the management.  Also the solicitor that did the conveyancing and was aware of me buying with a sitting tenant made me aware of a subletting clause I only found out by chance when the property management company threatened me with court I had to pay them £130 and now they say I need to tell them for how long it will be for between 3 and 36 months.
Surely I should have been told by someone about the clause as this would have changed my mind on the purchase.

Your Conveyancer, yes.

I own a Leasehold apartment... I do not have to jump through the hoops you describe. Part of me just wonders if it's the Management Company trying it on. Have you read the pertinent clause(s) of your Lease yourself, to get a good handle on it? I have often seen clauses that would try to ban you letting part of the property out, not its whole though. The figure you've paid-out is not that much, in the grand scheme of things, but if it's a valid charge (and your Lease will be clear on this) then prepare for it to be recurring.

But - of course you're subletting. Your comment "I have since found out" is a strange one indeed... it's a Leasehold property, you are the Leaseholder, you're not living there.

A £130 charge (even if recurring) would have made you change your mind?