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More bad publicity. For FP
Posted by Reeve on 19 November 2025
"the leaseholders had refused to transfer the amount of money they were asked to transfer to the contingency fund". What a poor excuse!
Leaseholders have signed an agreement to pay service charges at a level set. The Managing Agent is obliged by the landlord to maintain the property. If the property needs this financial input then Firstport has every legal right to obtain that money from the residents. Firstport cannot use this feeble excuse for their inability to manage correctly. The problem is there's not the residents! The landlord should sack them!
Leaseholders have signed an agreement to pay service charges at a level set. The Managing Agent is obliged by the landlord to maintain the property. If the property needs this financial input then Firstport has every legal right to obtain that money from the residents. Firstport cannot use this feeble excuse for their inability to manage correctly. The problem is there's not the residents! The landlord should sack them!
Posted by on 20 November 2025
Exactly right. Leaseholders do not have the right to refuse to pay a service charge demand. This would out them in breach of their lease.
Of course they could challenge the demand or pay under protest.
Firstport just make it up as they go along.
Of course they could challenge the demand or pay under protest.
Firstport just make it up as they go along.
Posted by Michael Epstein on 20 November 2025
Disappointment in Oxford
Oxford is a wonderful city as any visitor can testify.
It is full of interesting places to visit.
The Museum of History & Science, The Bodleian Library, Bridge of Sighs, The Sheldonian and many more.
However one place I as editor wanted to visit above all else was the Firstport managed London Court in Oxford.
Unfortunately I was a week too late.
Firstport were sacked as the managing agents last week.
They are now managed by Select Retirement Property Services, who are gaining an excellent reputation for good service and good honest value for money.
Well done Select. About Firstport look forward to more successes as you take an increasing number of developments from the beleaguered Firstport.
It is full of interesting places to visit.
The Museum of History & Science, The Bodleian Library, Bridge of Sighs, The Sheldonian and many more.
However one place I as editor wanted to visit above all else was the Firstport managed London Court in Oxford.
Unfortunately I was a week too late.
Firstport were sacked as the managing agents last week.
They are now managed by Select Retirement Property Services, who are gaining an excellent reputation for good service and good honest value for money.
Well done Select. About Firstport look forward to more successes as you take an increasing number of developments from the beleaguered Firstport.
Posted by The Editor on 14 November 2025
Dear Mr Editor
I have good news and bad news from London Court in Oxford. First though can I thank and congratulate you on all the work you do. We are all getting somewhere thanks to your efforts.
The bad news is that you couldn’t come to visit us at London Court as you were a week late. Actually you were nearly 5 years too late as we achieved RTM in April 2021.
The good news however is you are still welcome and we invite you over for lunch with us anytime you want.
FirstPort didn’t go without a fight but we won in the end and we have been delighted over the years to have the control that all leaseholders deserve.
There was a glitch a couple of years ago when the managing agent at the time sold their portfolio to guess who. Despite being told that under the terms of RTM we did not want their return, again they did not understand and wrote to our leaseholders that they were coming back. NO WAY!!
Anyway, as you point out we are now with Select and are very pleased to be so.
I have good news and bad news from London Court in Oxford. First though can I thank and congratulate you on all the work you do. We are all getting somewhere thanks to your efforts.
The bad news is that you couldn’t come to visit us at London Court as you were a week late. Actually you were nearly 5 years too late as we achieved RTM in April 2021.
The good news however is you are still welcome and we invite you over for lunch with us anytime you want.
FirstPort didn’t go without a fight but we won in the end and we have been delighted over the years to have the control that all leaseholders deserve.
There was a glitch a couple of years ago when the managing agent at the time sold their portfolio to guess who. Despite being told that under the terms of RTM we did not want their return, again they did not understand and wrote to our leaseholders that they were coming back. NO WAY!!
Anyway, as you point out we are now with Select and are very pleased to be so.
Posted by Brian on 16 November 2025
I would be delighted to visit.
You are living proof that harassed residents don't have to put up with being cheated by Firstport.
They can fight back by forming a Right to Manage company and appointing a management company of their own choosing?
From the outset Select have always delivered on their promises. They are a credit to the Retirement development management sector. They have proved that management can be delivered without cheating vulnerable residents.
That you have taken your management away from Firstport is a real kick to the teeth for Firstport as it represents not simply another lost management contract but a management contract that they bought a company to have.
Well done to everyone at London Court.
You are living proof that harassed residents don't have to put up with being cheated by Firstport.
They can fight back by forming a Right to Manage company and appointing a management company of their own choosing?
From the outset Select have always delivered on their promises. They are a credit to the Retirement development management sector. They have proved that management can be delivered without cheating vulnerable residents.
That you have taken your management away from Firstport is a real kick to the teeth for Firstport as it represents not simply another lost management contract but a management contract that they bought a company to have.
Well done to everyone at London Court.
Posted by The Editor on 16 November 2025
What Makes Work Urgent?
So what does make the need to do work urgent for Firstport?
Is it a leaking roof, or maybe faulty fire doors? Perhaps it maybe broken pavements or lifts being out of order leaving elderly residents trapped?
Maybe work needed to supply sales packs o vendors? Perhaps none of these?
But what could be considered urgent by Firstport is if their is an issue with a boundary retaining wall.
Of course Firstport may well delay rectification work for three years before the work becomes urgent. It may or not be that time has compromised the integrity of the wall, or it may be connected with it being the last week of Firstport managing the development?
Could it just be that the urgency is because it is the last chance for Firstport to earn from the development?
Who in their right mind would ever attempt building work in these weather conditions?
Is it a leaking roof, or maybe faulty fire doors? Perhaps it maybe broken pavements or lifts being out of order leaving elderly residents trapped?
Maybe work needed to supply sales packs o vendors? Perhaps none of these?
But what could be considered urgent by Firstport is if their is an issue with a boundary retaining wall.
Of course Firstport may well delay rectification work for three years before the work becomes urgent. It may or not be that time has compromised the integrity of the wall, or it may be connected with it being the last week of Firstport managing the development?
Could it just be that the urgency is because it is the last chance for Firstport to earn from the development?
Who in their right mind would ever attempt building work in these weather conditions?
Posted by The Editor on 14 November 2025
FIRSTPORT - ANOTHER SCAM?
FirstPort, having produced the Annual Budget for year ending 31st March 2026, presented to and approved by residents, assessed their Management Fees from the budget figures and finally apportioned charges to residents for recovery throughout the financial year. The Budget and content have been agreed.
FirstPort, subsequently, provide details in November 2025 informing of ACTUAL costs accrued to date. These costs are related to the previously agreed Budget figures. However, FirstPort, have made an unapproved increase of £2K for estimated electricity costs. This should have no consequence as Budgeted figures are estimated, and ACTUAL figures provide a resultant SURPLUS/DEFICIT. NOT SO!
Firstport have taken it on themselves to INCREASE the agreed Management Fees posted in the Budget. This creates additional unjustified cost of c£500. For years the Management Fees stated in a Budget have always remained unchanged in the Annual Accounts.
FirstPort, subsequently, provide details in November 2025 informing of ACTUAL costs accrued to date. These costs are related to the previously agreed Budget figures. However, FirstPort, have made an unapproved increase of £2K for estimated electricity costs. This should have no consequence as Budgeted figures are estimated, and ACTUAL figures provide a resultant SURPLUS/DEFICIT. NOT SO!
Firstport have taken it on themselves to INCREASE the agreed Management Fees posted in the Budget. This creates additional unjustified cost of c£500. For years the Management Fees stated in a Budget have always remained unchanged in the Annual Accounts.
Posted by Concerned Person on 10 November 2025
No More Children Thanks To Firstport
It is the understandable wish of a young married couple who are in love and already have two delightful children to bring some more into the world if they can afford it.
And the couple could have afforded it until misfortune struck and they purchased a two bedroom house at the Park 25 development in Redhill Surrey.
The house for which they paid £250,000 for was fine, they budgeted for the £2,800 service charge for the communal areas even though it was a bit steep.
The misfortune as they soon discovered was that the company maintaining the communal areas was Firstport.
Now the service charge for very poor or non existent service is £7,520!
Because they wanted to increase their family they needed to move and buy a bigger house. They put their house on the market for a reasonable £290,000 but could find no buyers at that price.
They have now dropped the price to £220,000 and still nobody will buy. The excuse given is the high cost of the service charges.
Local MP Rebecca Paul clearly agrees with those that will not buy as she described Firstport service charges as being exorbitant.
So this couple are trapped and cannot try for another baby thanks to Firstport.
And the couple could have afforded it until misfortune struck and they purchased a two bedroom house at the Park 25 development in Redhill Surrey.
The house for which they paid £250,000 for was fine, they budgeted for the £2,800 service charge for the communal areas even though it was a bit steep.
The misfortune as they soon discovered was that the company maintaining the communal areas was Firstport.
Now the service charge for very poor or non existent service is £7,520!
Because they wanted to increase their family they needed to move and buy a bigger house. They put their house on the market for a reasonable £290,000 but could find no buyers at that price.
They have now dropped the price to £220,000 and still nobody will buy. The excuse given is the high cost of the service charges.
Local MP Rebecca Paul clearly agrees with those that will not buy as she described Firstport service charges as being exorbitant.
So this couple are trapped and cannot try for another baby thanks to Firstport.
Posted by The Editor on 03 November 2025
Editor,
This is a truly shocking example of why property managing agents should be regulated effectively and be held to account in Law.
Self regulation has proven to be completely ineffective and appears to be policed by an "Old Boys" friendly organisation in my view.
The "auto text script response" from property managing agents is wearing thin in my view, they are starting to sound like something that pops up on their p.c. when replying to a well documented and often repeated failing by their employer.
This is a truly shocking example of why property managing agents should be regulated effectively and be held to account in Law.
Self regulation has proven to be completely ineffective and appears to be policed by an "Old Boys" friendly organisation in my view.
The "auto text script response" from property managing agents is wearing thin in my view, they are starting to sound like something that pops up on their p.c. when replying to a well documented and often repeated failing by their employer.
Posted by Stephen Burns on 04 November 2025
There have been some 16757 posts and replies on this page. To view older ones search here.
This only searches posts, not replies.
They were as usual full of excuses. A lady living on the top floor of a development had seriously bad mould on her ceiling, and despite the fact that the roof was in need of major repair, FP said the flat didn't have adequate ventilation., and worse still, each leaseholder was having to pay over £3000 towards the cost if the repair was done. FP said the leaseholders had refused to transfer the amount of money they were asked to transfer to the contingency fund. At the end of the report the team spoke with an MP who did not speak of FP in good terms. How do the top brass sleep at night?