New report highlights challenges facing shared owners and leaseholders
Summary
LEASE’s latest Shared Ownership Insight Report identifies recurring problems reported by shared owners, including poor communication, landlord non-compliance with lease terms, and difficulties with repairs, service charges and resale or staircasing processes. The report also highlights concerns around building insurance costs, redress routes and uncertainty linked to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.
Why it matters
The findings are relevant to surveyors because they point to persistent defects, service charge and building-safety issues that often sit behind leasehold and shared ownership disputes. They also underline the need for clear reporting on repairs, major works, insurance and lease terms when advising clients or assessing residential property risk.
Key points
- LEASE found a pattern of communication breakdowns and landlord failures to follow lease terms.
- Common issues included staircasing, lease extensions, subletting and resale restrictions.
- Repairs and building concerns ranged from damp and mould to cladding and fire safety.
- Service charge transparency and rising building insurance costs were frequent complaints.
- Shared owners reported difficulty accessing redress through ombudsman, tribunal and court routes.
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