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tree quotation
Bill do what we did years ago b 4 we went RTM get your own quotation and compare it with theirs
Posted by the holy mole on 05 October 2025
Recharging The Batteries Time!
Keep your comments coming in please. Your editor is going to have a few days rest and your comments will be published on his return.
Of course, the rest may be interrupted should the editor stumble across a Firstport managed development on his travels!
Of course, the rest may be interrupted should the editor stumble across a Firstport managed development on his travels!
Posted by The Editor on 05 October 2025
Mr Editor
Have a lovely time, and get your batteries fully charged.
Have a lovely time, and get your batteries fully charged.
Posted by RUTH on 05 October 2025
Project Administration Fee or Scam
Chandlers Court (Cambridgeshire) is a purpose-built block of 24 flats with maintenance services provided by FirstPort. The Regional Manager is Mr James Williams and the Property Manager is Ms Louise Morris.
The block is surrounded by many trees which, before the end of the month, are scheduled to be trimmed back and reduced in height. The assigned contractor quoted £7920 (inc VAT) which, given the amount of work involved, I consider to be perfectly reasonable.
However, FirstPort have added a Project Administration Fee of £1537 (inc VAT) which is 19.4% of the contractor’s fee.
When I queried what is that FirstPort will do to justify their charging the leaseholders the ‘extra’ £1537 I was provided with the following list:
(1) Preparing scope of works
(2) Providing copy estimates and or specification of works
(3) Ensuring that estimates and specifications are made available on MyHome
(4) Fielding queries from owners received via phone, email and letter with regards to the works. Answering these queries where possible, and/or liaising with the relevant departments, to obtain the answer.
(5) Drafting of the Section 20 Notices, and liaising with the post team in order that they may be issued.
(6) The raising of levies and instructions sent to Sales Ledger Billings to issue, followed by the monitoring of accounts in order that we may keep the Property Manager informed on how much has been paid, to enable a Purchase order to be raised promptly once funds are in.
(7) Raising orders
(8) Issuing a contract awarded letter to owners, so that they are aware when works are due to commence
(9) Monitoring orders in order to ensure that invoices are paid and liaising with the contractor and or surveyor along with Purchase Ledger where necessary
(10) Issuing of a snagging letter if required
(11) To be the point of contact for any issues once the project is underway, in the event that the Property Manager or Regional Manager are not available. e.g. contractor access to site, resident unhappy with an aspect of the work, etc.
Obviously, most of the above is absolute garbage, concocted to try and justify the imposition of the ‘so called’ Project Administration Fee, and not worthy of comment.
I decided to play along with FirstPort and requested a copy of the Scope of Works but instead received a copy of a Tree Survey carried out by the contractor.
FirstPort then confirmed that ‘as the tree survey was very detailed this was used as a scope of works and a new one was not needed’.
Since the Tree Survey was the Scope of Works I assumed that the cost would be included in the Project Administration Fee but on querying this I was informed that ‘'the cost of the tree survey would be charged to the regular maintenance under the service charge, it is not charged to the project’ and FirstPort further stated that ‘The major works fee (as we have mentioned before- covers the list we sent you), is the same whether all items from the list are needed to be addressed/arranged or only some’.
So, FirstPort charge the leaseholders a Project Administration Fee, which, amongst other things, should cover the cost of preparing the Scope of Works, but in this case FirstPort have decided that the leaseholders must pay both the Project Administration Fee AND the cost of preparing the Scope of Works.
FirstPort are a law unto themselves and fleece leaseholders whenever they want and by however much they want. Is there not something criminal going on here?
The block is surrounded by many trees which, before the end of the month, are scheduled to be trimmed back and reduced in height. The assigned contractor quoted £7920 (inc VAT) which, given the amount of work involved, I consider to be perfectly reasonable.
However, FirstPort have added a Project Administration Fee of £1537 (inc VAT) which is 19.4% of the contractor’s fee.
When I queried what is that FirstPort will do to justify their charging the leaseholders the ‘extra’ £1537 I was provided with the following list:
(1) Preparing scope of works
(2) Providing copy estimates and or specification of works
(3) Ensuring that estimates and specifications are made available on MyHome
(4) Fielding queries from owners received via phone, email and letter with regards to the works. Answering these queries where possible, and/or liaising with the relevant departments, to obtain the answer.
(5) Drafting of the Section 20 Notices, and liaising with the post team in order that they may be issued.
(6) The raising of levies and instructions sent to Sales Ledger Billings to issue, followed by the monitoring of accounts in order that we may keep the Property Manager informed on how much has been paid, to enable a Purchase order to be raised promptly once funds are in.
(7) Raising orders
(8) Issuing a contract awarded letter to owners, so that they are aware when works are due to commence
(9) Monitoring orders in order to ensure that invoices are paid and liaising with the contractor and or surveyor along with Purchase Ledger where necessary
(10) Issuing of a snagging letter if required
(11) To be the point of contact for any issues once the project is underway, in the event that the Property Manager or Regional Manager are not available. e.g. contractor access to site, resident unhappy with an aspect of the work, etc.
Obviously, most of the above is absolute garbage, concocted to try and justify the imposition of the ‘so called’ Project Administration Fee, and not worthy of comment.
I decided to play along with FirstPort and requested a copy of the Scope of Works but instead received a copy of a Tree Survey carried out by the contractor.
FirstPort then confirmed that ‘as the tree survey was very detailed this was used as a scope of works and a new one was not needed’.
Since the Tree Survey was the Scope of Works I assumed that the cost would be included in the Project Administration Fee but on querying this I was informed that ‘'the cost of the tree survey would be charged to the regular maintenance under the service charge, it is not charged to the project’ and FirstPort further stated that ‘The major works fee (as we have mentioned before- covers the list we sent you), is the same whether all items from the list are needed to be addressed/arranged or only some’.
So, FirstPort charge the leaseholders a Project Administration Fee, which, amongst other things, should cover the cost of preparing the Scope of Works, but in this case FirstPort have decided that the leaseholders must pay both the Project Administration Fee AND the cost of preparing the Scope of Works.
FirstPort are a law unto themselves and fleece leaseholders whenever they want and by however much they want. Is there not something criminal going on here?
Posted by Bill Fox on 03 October 2025
Part of our building is grade 2 listed. A few years ago we had an external redecoration, and after it was completed we received a letter from Firstport telling us the surveyors did not realise the building was listed (despite there being a plaque on the wall? And that some of the work would have to be redone costing us thousands of pounds more. I queried with Firstport why leaseholders were paying for someone else's mistake, There reply was THESE THINGS HAPPEN. We can't win.
Posted by Reeve f on 04 October 2025
Bill, the normal fee for project management would be 10%.
Posted by Michael Epstein on 05 October 2025
Reeve, yes you can win.
It is entirely Firstport's responsibility for this error that has to be put right by law.
Apart from writing to Firstport, you need to write to the freeholder stating that Firstport's actions have rendered your property unlawful by ignoring the building's Grade 2 listing. The building has to be restored to its original condition. Either Firstport who made the error should pay for re-instatement or the liability will fall to you as the owners for whom you appointed Firstport to care for your property.
It is entirely Firstport's responsibility for this error that has to be put right by law.
Apart from writing to Firstport, you need to write to the freeholder stating that Firstport's actions have rendered your property unlawful by ignoring the building's Grade 2 listing. The building has to be restored to its original condition. Either Firstport who made the error should pay for re-instatement or the liability will fall to you as the owners for whom you appointed Firstport to care for your property.
Posted by The Editor on 05 October 2025
Free at last!
I just wanted to confirm that Swan Court in Exeter is finally free of FirstPort!
After almost 4 years of receiving practically no service, leaseholders had enough and our freeholder has now removed them. Although we are only a small development - 29 properties split into 3 blocks - I believe that this means that there are no developments managed by FirstPort left in the Quay area.
The Leaseholder Association Committee has already had a very positive first meeting with our new management company, Arquero. We are now waiting for the transition period to be completed and then we can start to clear up the mess that FirstPort has left behind. Arquero are keen to establish a maintenance schedule (something that FirstPort never did!) and hopefully it is a case of onwards and upwards for us now!
After almost 4 years of receiving practically no service, leaseholders had enough and our freeholder has now removed them. Although we are only a small development - 29 properties split into 3 blocks - I believe that this means that there are no developments managed by FirstPort left in the Quay area.
The Leaseholder Association Committee has already had a very positive first meeting with our new management company, Arquero. We are now waiting for the transition period to be completed and then we can start to clear up the mess that FirstPort has left behind. Arquero are keen to establish a maintenance schedule (something that FirstPort never did!) and hopefully it is a case of onwards and upwards for us now!
Posted by GWJ on 01 October 2025
Many congratulations and thank you for letting us know. you give hope to all other Firstport victims. Not only that but you have denied Firstport revenue streams that they are so desperate for. Well done!
Posted by The Editor on 01 October 2025
Excellent news GWJ and congratulations to all.
Posted by Stephen Burns on 02 October 2025
A Letter To Bring Cheer!
Taken from FRAG.
Good Morning, Jamie/Firstport team.
We have attempted to work alongside your team to better our Hinxhill Park Estate with no avail.
As you may already know new directors have been appointed on the Hinxhill Park(Ashford) Management Company Ltd.
As a director of the above company I hereby terminate any management agreement that are in place and give one month's notice of our intention to transfer our management to MPL.
That is yet another loss for Firstport in Kent.
Let's all sing along to the Queen hit "Another one bites the dust!"
Good Morning, Jamie/Firstport team.
We have attempted to work alongside your team to better our Hinxhill Park Estate with no avail.
As you may already know new directors have been appointed on the Hinxhill Park(Ashford) Management Company Ltd.
As a director of the above company I hereby terminate any management agreement that are in place and give one month's notice of our intention to transfer our management to MPL.
That is yet another loss for Firstport in Kent.
Let's all sing along to the Queen hit "Another one bites the dust!"
Posted by The Editor on 25 September 2025
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