A homeowner desperately trying to sell his Liverpool apartment in a bid to relocate to care for his parents has voiced his frustration after a ground rent clause blocked him from moving twice.
Johnathan Pascall lives near Sefton Park in a Victorian manor that has been transformed into seven flats. He's been trying to move since the beginning of 2022, with two buyers pulling out at a late stage.
He "started digging" in September, when the second deal fell through, he said: "We didn't get a straight answer from anyone and eventually pieced it together. We tried a company that buys your house for cash, we were that desperate. It was actually their in-house conveyancer who explained the change in law. We didn't fully realise the impact until a couple of weeks ago."
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The change in law means mortgage providers won't lend on properties that still have ground rent over a certain amount. Johnathan is now seeking a deed of variation from Liverpool City Council to cap the annual payment. He said: "We would happily pay any legal fees, they just need to add a simple sentence."
A representative of another flat owner told the ECHO the homes are under a 'right to manage company'. It was formed by residents to manage the building and keep the maintenance up.
They added: "It's a difficult situation that has been made more difficult by a change to the law. The council are not willing to do a deed of variation to limit the increases. The properties are becoming unsellable."
The Aigburth building currently has a ground rent of £4,500, double what it was a decade ago when the terms were renegotiated. To buy the freehold, at least four of the seven apartments would have to be involved, with the cost split among them.
A council spokesperson said that "the headlease the council has granted is between the council and a management company" and that it is not a matter for the local authority.
Johnathan is moving to care for his parents, who live in Manchester, he said: "It's not the other side of the country but it's regular trips that cost money and take time
"I just don't understand the lack of humanity. I'm not missing anything; I'm pretty sure I now know more about this than the council. I've tried to make the case clear to them but I get the impression they're just not taking time to understand the situation.
"We can't believe it's dragged on. It's been one step back after the other and has led us to this situation. It sounds dramatic to say we're trapped but the only option we have is to buy the freehold and it's just not affordable."
Another resident, who does not want to be named, told the ECHO the situation has pushed them to the edge of a "mental breakdown".
They added: "I'm in a catch 22 position because of the council. I only have two years left on my interest only mortgage agreement, which has risen beyond my scope. At 65 years old I am facing eviction without any way to pay back my mortgage provider the outstanding balance."
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