CASE STUDIES
Propertymark
CLIENTS
Propertymark
Job
Demonstrating industry insight through a report highlighting problems with the leasehold system.
Working for Propertymark, Lansons identified an property issue whereby houses were being sold as leasehold. The team therefore explored the extent to which these homeowners have been affected by the ‘leasehold scandal’ over the last ten years. Building on an existing relationship with officials across various teams, the team engages with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) who were also seeking to understand the extent of the problem and potential policy solutions.
We drafted a questionnaire exploring the overall experiences of leasehold house owners including the buying process, what it’s like to live in a leasehold, and the issues these homeowners have faced selling their homes. The findings were stark, revealing that 94% of leasehold house owners regret buying a leasehold and 62% feel like they were mis-sold. The report launched, with NAEA Propertymark Chief Executive Mark Hayward, on the BBC Breakfast sofa, and with coverage on BBC Online, in The Times, and across several other national publications.
In addition to this, we secured broadcast coverage on BBC 2’s Victoria Derbyshire show, and on the BBC News channel – on which the top-lines were trailed all day. The report made headlines in national print and broadcast media and was welcomed by the industry, prompting direct media responses from MHCLG and property commentators.
As a result, Propertymark saw an uplift in enquiries about membership on the day of launch. It has also resulted in requests for meetings from MPs and interest from the devolved assemblies to provide further information.