These ranged from taxation and compliance to general cost escalation and servicing debt. Heirs also cited more nuanced issues including managing the increased expectation of public access to land – with examples such as the Dartmoor dispute thrusting land rights into the spotlight – as well as estate-specific considerations, such as the efficacy of current management and operations.

The most frequently cited concern, though, was cashflow and general financial viability. Effective diversification was noted by heirs as being a potentially fundamental remedy to this, as well as more frequent involvement in family/estate decision-making, communication and professional support from external advisers.

At least one heir noted the challenge of balancing the requirements of managing an estate with continuing to pursue a career. This was echoed by current estate owners, the majority of whom accept that a guaranteed inheritance can be limiting when it comes to an heir’s personal ambitions.