Seigneur asks tenants about long-lease 'sales'

SARK Seigneur Michael Beaumont has demanded that all tenants give him details of any leases on their land. The landowners yesterday received a letter signed by Mr Beaumont that appears to be in response to reports of Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay moving to secure substantial parcels of land in Sark.

Some believe they have struck long-term lease deals on the tenements, depriving the Seigneur of his feudal treizieme, a form of property tax.

Mr Beaumont can claim one-thirteenth of the purchase price of a tenement - something that will be abolished if legislation passed by Chief Pleas is approved by the Privy Council.

'Should you feel to be constrained by reason of confidentiality clauses written into any incumbrances 'conditions of sale' not to inform me of the condition upon which you now hold title that you have placed upon your tenement then I shall place my own interpretation upon your allegiance to me as your Seigneur and through me to the Crown and thereby the Letters Patent that apply to land holding on this island of Sark,' said Mr Beaumont in the letter.

Brecqhou, owned by Sir David and Sir Frederick, was not sent the letter. Its lease is registered at Sark's Greffe.

Mr Beaumont was unavailable for comment.

Dos d'Ane tenant Edric Baker confirmed that he had received the letter yesterday morning.

'The Seigneur would need to have that information. He's certainly entitled to it and we would give him what information he needs,' he said.

Mr Baker said there was one lease on his property.

'We were always instructed we were only allowed short leases and we've been prepared to go by that.'

La Forge tenant Rossford de Carteret had also received the letter.

He said that what had been reported to have happened with long-lease arrangements was not right until the law had been changed.

In the letter, Mr Beaumont said he was concerned to hear of rumoured 'sales' and the granting of long leases over virtually the whole of tenements.

Under the current feudal system, the Seigneur needs to give his permission for a tenement to be sold.

He has not been approached yet.

Sir David and Sir Frederick are believed to be in the process of securing La Rondellerie, Le Vieux Port, La Jaspellerie and La Moinerie.

Duncan Barclay, Sir David's son, is involved in a deal to buy La Fripponerie tenement and has a case outstanding in the Royal Court against the Seigneur's right to treizieme. There had been indications that he would drop this after Chief Pleas approved its abolition.

But the Seigneur's letter could mean a rethink. Tenants have until Saturday 28 July to respond.