Residents in Slough, Berkshire, are raising concerns after the local council moved to increase ground rent charges for people living in apartment blocks. The criticism follows a public statement by Mebs Bobat on February 20, 2026, who noted that the higher fees are being introduced while many buildings are still undergoing repairs.
These price increases come shortly after the UK Government announced a new national limit on ground rents. On January 27, 2026, officials confirmed that these annual costs will be capped at 250 pounds for existing leases, though the new rules are not expected to begin until late 2028.
The higher charges affect properties like Nova House, where the council has been working to replace unsafe cladding for several years. The project to make the building safe has seen total costs rise to an estimated 33.7 million pounds since the council took over Ground Rent Estates 5 Limited, the company that owns the land, in 2018.
Many residents currently pay around 260 pounds a year in ground rent, and current lease agreements often allow for prices to be reviewed every 10 years. Local residents argue that the decision to raise these costs now adds an extra financial burden in the years before the national price limit is officially introduced.
