Ground-rent schedules: what to record

A ground-rent clause may state one amount for the entire term, increase by fixed steps, double at set intervals or refer to an index. Record each period, its start date and its annual rent.

The current rent alone is not enough when future rent changes form part of the calculation. Check later schedules and deeds of variation as well as the main lease clauses.

Service charges, administration charges and insurance contributions are not ground rent. A lease may list them near one another, so label each payment by its legal basis rather than its collection date.

Do not silently convert ambiguous review wording into a fixed schedule. Preserve the source wording, identify the uncertainty and obtain professional advice if the interpretation could materially change the calculation.