Leaseholders don’t want extra responsibilities: freeholder-commissioned research

Research commissioned by three of the UK’s largest freeholders has found that most leaseholders of apartment buildings don’t want to take on new responsibilities for building and fire safety. The research was carried out by data research company Savanta Group on behalf of professional freeholders Long Harbour, Wallace Partnership Group and Consensus Business Group. They say the findings cast doubt on a Law Commission report yesterday that advocated commonhold as a preferred system for apartment living. If the measures are adopted, residents could be given more responsibility over the management of their building, and ground rents could be abolished. The research surveyed more than 1,000 leaseholders of apartment blocks across the UK about their attitudes towards leasehold and the direction of government reforms on building safety. 67% of those surveyed said they are worried about the extra admin and neglect of building maintenance. A further 65% foresaw personal health and safety as an issue, given many leaseholders’ “lack of awareness around certain issues and understanding of up-to-date legislation”. Additionally, 63% fear conflict with other residents when it comes to decision making. And 37% said they would consider selling if these new obligations fell to them. Long Harbour executive director Richard Silva said in a statement that, while “government is right to be introducing these new reforms to building safety .. this new evidence clearly shows that leaseholders do not want to be landed with these responsibilities themselves.”