The leasehold sector must improve communication, skills delivery and education to address disheartened leaseholders, according to the findings from the National Leasehold Survey 2016, conducted by V Formation client Brady Solicitors.

Better leaseholder education and improvements to how managing agents communicate with their leaseholders are urgently required if the leasehold sector is to provide a long-term solution to the UK’s housing needs, according to the findings of the first-ever independent national survey of the sector.

The National Leasehold Survey set out to identify the levels of satisfaction amongst the UK’s leaseholders and RMC directors. Developed by LEASE, the Government’s arms’ length body for the leasehold property sector, and V Formation client Brady Solicitors, it received 1,244 responses from leaseholders and RMC directors throughout England and Wales.

With two-thirds (65%) of leaseholders taking part in the survey saying they would welcome more information on their rights, options and obligations, policy makers have been given a clear indication that improvements are needed, but it raises questions over whether it is a public or private sector responsibility to change and provide the much-needed training and support.

The survey has made a number of alarming discoveries – the vast majority (68%) of leaseholders have little or no confidence in the ability of their managing agent to deal with a problem or dispute, with just 6% being ‘very confident’ their agents would act effectively and efficiently to resolve it.

Hilary Campton worked with Brady Solicitors to design and develop the survey and analyse the findings.

“Hilary has worked with Brady Solicitors for a number of years and has a very clear understanding of our aims and objectives.  She brings both the perspective of a senior skilled marketer with an external advisor’s overview that adds sophistication and completion to projects. From a kernel of an idea in mid 2015, she has developed the survey into a major piece of research that has the potential to provide a valuable source of information to anyone involved in the leasehold sector, as well as positioning Brady Solicitors at the forefront of the property management industry.”

Colin Hussey, Business Development Director at Brady Solicitors

Brady Solicitors is a property law firm, based in Nottingham, that was established in 2008 by experienced property litigator Clare Brady. The firm works with developers, property management companies, landowners, leaseholders, investors, landlords and letting agents on a local, regional and national basis.