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<p>The department does not routinely collect data on bankruptcy or the reasons for
them; we would welcome any specific concerns being raised directly should those with
an interest in this policy area wish to do so.</p><p>It is important to note that
there are multiple ways leaseholders can seek support in remediation. The Leasehold
Advisory Service, funded by the department, provides free advice to leaseholders on
legal matters.</p><p>Part 5 of the Building Safety Act 2022 allows any leaseholders,
including those who are leaseholders in a building subject to collective enfranchisement,
to apply to the First Tier Tribunal to seek a Remediation Contribution Order from
a previous owner, developer or persons associated with either of these, for funds
to remediate relevant defects (including non-cladding defects) in their buildings.</p><p>Leaseholders
in buildings subject to collective enfranchisement can also seek to recover costs
of non-cladding defects through the retrospectively extended limitation period under
Section 1 of the Defective Premises Act. We have also extended the reach of civil
liability to associated companies of developers and a new cause of action which allows
manufacturers of construction products to be pursued.</p><p>Another possible course
of action would be to consider recourse to litigation under the Defective Premises
Act where costs may be recovered from those responsible for historical defects on
the building if construction was completed on or after 28 June 1992 and a dwelling
in the building is unfit for habitation.</p><p>The Government published a call for
evidence on leaseholder-owned buildings, which closed on 14 November 2022. We are
carefully considering the evidence, which will help inform Government policy on how
best to protect the leaseholders in leaseholder-owned buildings from the impact of
building safety defects. This evidence has informed the policy thinking which resulted
in the inclusion of building safety measures to further strengthen Remediation Contribution
Orders in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.</p><p>The department does not hold
data on the average value of the portfolios of leaseholders who own more than three
properties. The department issued a call for evidence on 21 March 2024 to assess the
impact of the leaseholder protections where a leasehold property is owned by two or
more individuals. The Call for Evidence closed on 5 April 2024.</p>
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