Derry MLA Sinead McLaughlin urges an end to 'feudal' ground rent claims

She raised the issue after many homeowners in Derry received letters demanding payment of annual ‘ground rent’ that they were not expecting.

She said: “The freehold property system is feudal, dating back centuries and, according to written demands received by my constituents, requires annual payments to an absentee property owner. That property owner does nothing other than take the payments, based on inherited land ownership.

“I am calling on finance minister Conor Murphy to introduce legislation to remove this feudal land system, as has been recommended for England and Wales by the Law Commission."

The Derry MLA asked Mr. Murphy to quantify the extent of the ground rent issue and if he intended introducing legal reforms to lease-holding in the north as was recommended for England and Wales by the Law Commission.

Mr. Murphy responded: "It is not possible to state how many homeowners do not hold freehold title to their property as it is not possible to extract this information from the Land Registry IT system.

"The system will be replaced in due course and it is intended that advanced reporting facilities will be available in the replacement system. The situation regarding leasehold in this jurisdiction differs from that in England and Wales and has not to date attracted the same types of criticism. However, we will continue to monitor emerging issues in this area.”

Mrs. McLaughlin said: "This is an important issue for my constituents in Derry and I am disappointed at the weak response by the minister to my written question.”