What type of estate does most residential property managers use?

The most commonly used type of estate by residential property managers is the leasehold estate. This is because residential property management typically involves leasing properties to tenants for a specific duration under defined terms, creating a landlord-tenant relationship. A leasehold estate grants tenants the right to occupy and use the property for the agreed period while the owner retains the title to the property. This arrangement is particularly significant in property management, as it establishes clear legal rights and responsibilities for both the landlord and the tenant.

In contrast, a life estate involves ownership for the duration of a person's life and does not reflect the typical lease structure used in residential management, making it less relevant in this context. Freehold estates, while important in real estate overall, pertain more to ownership rather than leasing, which is not the focus of property managers dealing with rental agreements. Joint estates, often referring to co-ownership arrangements, do not fit the standard operational model of property management in residential contexts, where one party typically manages the property while leasing it to tenants. Thus, the leasehold estate is the most applicable and frequently utilized by residential property managers.