Constituents from West Bridgford joined others from across the UK at an inquiry session in parliament focused on the inadequate performance of FirstPort, the UK’s largest leasehold management company.
Louise Scull and Sarah Colvin, residents of Edwalton Hall in West Bridgford, have been successful in working with other residents to remove FirstPort as its property management company – one of a small but growing number of cases where residents have taken decisive action against the property management firm. In January this year, MPs from across the country summoned FirstPort’s Managing Director to give evidence in parliament, and a government minister confirmed this week that he would be doing the same.
Louise, Sarah and other Edwalton Hall residents have worked with their MP, James Naish, to engage a representative of the freeholder at Edwalton Hall who has, in turn, supported the residents in appointing a new managing agent.
The inquiry in parliament on 23rd October was divided into three sessions looking at service management performance, communication with residents and FirstPort’s financial transparency. Issues raised by witnesses included:
- A lack of transparency over service charge calculations and insurance costs.
- Delays and repeated failures in essential maintenance and repairs.
- Poor communication and unresolved complaints.
- Concerns over missing reserve funds and inadequate auditing of accounts.
- Failure to meet commitments made by FirstPort’s leadership team earlier in the year.
Since being elected, James Naish MP has been contacted regularly by constituents about the high rates being charged by property management companies operating in Rushcliffe, including FirstPort which manages around 300,000 properties nationwide. In some cases, FirstPort’s management rates have risen by more than 50%, with no demonstrable improvement in the service provided to leaseholders.
Louise Scull said: “It was good to have the opportunity to present our evidence first-hand to a group of MPs who seemed genuinely concerned and committed to doing something about what they’d heard.”
Sarah Colvin continued: “I think some of the MPs sat round the table were genuinely shocked by what they heard. There was somebody there who had been trying to resolve a problem for eight years, and another person who had sent 80 emails to FirstPort without a single response. They clearly aren’t being taken seriously by FirstPort in this instance, but other property management companies are equally dismissive.”
James Naish MP commented: “I’m really pleased that Louise and Sarah were able to provide evidence in parliament, building on the contribution that Rushcliffe Borough Councillor Carys Thomas made in front of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee in June this year. There is nothing more powerful than constituents explaining how they’ve been badly let down by the current system, so I was pleased to put Edwalton Hall forward as a case study of FirstPort’s failings.
“FirstPort must now demonstrate proper accountability. Leaseholders deserve transparency, timely repairs and communication that respects their rights as paying customers.”
Louise and Sarah will not be resting on their laurels and want to see the whole leasehold system overhauled. Louise said: “My hope is that this government introduces effective, independent regulation of the sector at the centre, so the sort of behaviours that we have seen and experienced can’t continue. Their firm words are welcomed but they must advance the relevant legislation as quickly as possible, so that millions of people’s misery is ended, and their lives are improved by having full control over how their properties are managed.”
Sarah concluded: “Legal reform must happen in this parliament, and we’ll be holding our MP and others to account to make sure progress is made – even though, thankfully, FirstPort have been removed from the management of Edwalton Hall for good.”
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