Latest news with #FirstPort
BBC News
9 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Worcester block of flats evacuated over fire safety concerns
A block of flats in Worcester has been evacuated over fire safety concerns "affect the ability of residents to be able to escape safely should a fire occur", said the fire service, which issued a statement over the Barbourne Works in Northwick service added it had decided to issue a prohibition notice to the building management company, First Port, on Wednesday evening and was supporting people to find alternative accommodationThe firm said action was taken with residents' safety as the "highest priority". On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said they were working with local authority partners and First Port after "a number of fire safety concerns" were added they were supporting residents and the authority "to facilitate alternative accommodation whilst the building management company resolve" the concerns."First Port housing are supportive of a prohibition notice being issued", stated the service, which added 20 staff were sent to help in the Mercia Police were helping as well, the spokesperson added. A spokesperson for the management company said it had a team at the site "working closely with the local authority to support the temporary relocation of residents", after the fire service issued their added: "We understand how disruptive this situation is for residents. However, this action was taken with their safety as the highest priority. "We will continue to support residents and provide regular updates." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Residents bid to unseat 'terrible' Springhead Parkway managers
Residents are looking to remove their estate's management company as they claim they are charged "more and more for less".Homeowners at the Springhead Parkway estate in Gravesend are collecting petition signatures opposing FirstPort, the firm responsible for the area's public 50% of fellow residents sign the petition they can take over management of the area themselves under the 'right to manage', according to the Local Democracy Reporting said it does everything it can to keep costs low "whilst not compromising on the service we provide". Construction on the estate of nearly 800 homes, part of the Ebbsfleet Garden City development area, started in Vistry Group currently contracts FirstPort to maintain the area's public Johnson said "everything was ok" when he moved to the estate three years ago, but now "the maintenance of our public areas is terrible".FirstPort "always paint a sunny picture", he added, but "there's litter and dog mess that's not being collected in the parks" and broken playground equipment "that have not been fixed for over a year now".His partner, Ashley Wilson, said that the couple now avoid taking their young son to the park. The couple claim they have had to pay £2,500 of unjustified FirstPort charges since moving in, including a surprise £600 "maintenance adjustment" fee in November."When we called there was no explanation as to why these charges were being put forward; they were giving no evidence, and they were being quite threatening as well," Mr Johnson are "paying more and more money for what seems to be less work", he added. A FirstPort spokesperson said: "The service charge is not a source of revenue for property managers. It is allocated to cover actual expenses incurred to ensure the smooth running of the property." The MP for Gravesham, Dr Lauren Sullivan, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she supporting residents' calls to replace FirstPort, but the matter is complicated by some parts of the estate having different management said: "FirstPort has been plaguing communities and new housing communities across the country, and I've joined together with fellow MPs to write a letter summoning them to Parliament to explain what they're doing." Vistry Group declined to comment.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ministers outline plans to ban new leasehold flats
Ministers have outlined plans to abolish the leasehold system in England and Wales. Proposals to change the law would ban the sale of new leasehold flats. Under the leasehold system, third-party landlords known as freeholders own the building and a leaseholder buys the right to occupy a flat within it for a fixed time period. The government said it wanted to move to a way of building homes that was more in line with the rest of the world, known as commonhold, where homeowners owned a share of and had control over buildings they lived in. But freeholders said leasehold was the "most effective way of managing large complex apartment buildings". A white paper published on Monday stated the sale of new leasehold flats would be banned and commonhold "reinvigorated" with a new legal framework. A draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill - including the detail of how the new system would work - will be published later this year, the government has said. New legislation would apply to England and Wales, where there are around five million leasehold homes. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said reforms would put an end to "unfair practices and unreasonable costs at the hands of landlords". Leaseholders can feel like they have no control over costs for repairs and maintenance of the outside of their building. Around 1,000 people contacted the BBC after a BBC investigation about service charges in leasehold blocks last year. Kasia Tarker bought a one-bedroom flat in Southall, West London, in 2022. Her service charge bills have increased from roughly £65 per month in 2022 to more than £200 per month this year. She said she felt helpless and could not afford the charges. "I am going have to try and sell the flat or become homeless, I don't know what I am going to do." FirstPort, who took over management of Kasia's development in 2023, said the "increases in areas such as insurance and health and safety costs" were beyond its control. Kasia said she would like more control over her service charges but the government's commonhold proposals were for new builds, so would not help her in her current situation. Jean Hopkin, another leaseholder who got in touch with the BBC, said the service charge for her three-bedroom flat in Sheffield had increased 356% - from £106 a month to £483 in four years - and was unsellable because of the high charges. Jenny Baker in Southampton is also struggling to find buyers because of "unjustified" service charges that have gone up to £7,200 a year. "The state of the apartment block is just terrible. The windows don't get cleaned and there's black mould on the outside of the building - what on earth am I paying for? "I feel stuck – I can never come out of it. I feel like I have absolutely no control, and it makes me feel really anxious." Rendall & Rittner, which manage Jean and Jenny's buildings, said the company did "not profit from or mark up any costs". According to property company Hamptons, the amount of money leaseholders pay for communal maintenance and services in their building has risen by 11% in England and Wales between 2023 and 2024 to an average of £2,300. Companies responsible for managing buildings have said a rise in costs can be attributed to legitimate expenses including energy prices and higher inflation rates but many leaseholders felt the costs were unfair. Under the current system, it is the freeholder or landlord that appoints a managing agent. Under a commonhold system, residents would have more autonomy over what they pay and who they appoint to do maintainence, the government said. What is the difference between leasehold and commonhold? A leasehold property reverts to the freeholder after a fixed amount of time. A commonhold property is owned outright, like a freehold house. Under commonhold, homeowners have a say on the annual budget for their building. Under the leasehold system, a freeholder or landlord sends a bill to residents for communal costs. The residents will be able to hire and fire a managing agent. There is no ground rent charge in a commonhold property. Forfeiture is not possible under commonhold, meaning a resident cannot be threatened with losing their home. Natalie Chambers, director of the Residential Freehold Association (RFA), said the measures "should not be seen as a trade-off between leasehold and commonhold". "Millions of leaseholders across the country are perfectly content with the tenure and we firmly believe that leasehold is the most effective way of managing large complex apartment building." She added that a commonhold system would mean "residents would face greater financial and legal responsibilities for block maintenance and management". The National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) said it was "delighted" about the announcement and called today's white paper is a significant step forward. But NLC founder Katie Kendrick said it was "paramount" that those currently living in leasehold buildings were not forgotten. She said: "While focusing on preventing future leasehold abuses is crucial, it's equally vital to address the plight of existing leaseholders currently bound by the inequitable leasehold system. "Commonhold conversion mechanisms are essential to offer an escape route for those trapped." Mr Pennycook said the government would "continue to implement reforms to help millions of leaseholders who are currently suffering". Additional reporting by Jade Thompson How service charges in flats spiralled out of control Charged £720 to have a key cut - soaring bills drive leaseholders to breaking point Flat owners' anger over 'mystery' service charges 'We can't sell our flat and can't afford to live in it'
BBC News
03-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Government to end leasehold flat system with new commonhold plans
Ministers have outlined plans to abolish the leasehold system in England and to change the law would ban the sale of new leasehold the leasehold system, third-party landlords known as freeholders own the building and a leaseholder buys the right to occupy a flat within it for a fixed time period. The government said it wanted to move to a way of building homes that was more in line with the rest of the world, known as commonhold, where homeowners owned a share of and had control over buildings they lived in. But freeholders said leasehold was the "most effective way of managing large complex apartment buildings". A white paper published on Monday stated the sale of new leasehold flats would be banned and commonhold "reinvigorated" with a new legal framework.A draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill - including the detail of how the new system would work - will be published later this year, the government has legislation would apply to England and Wales, where there are around five million leasehold Minister Matthew Pennycook said reforms would put an end to "unfair practices and unreasonable costs at the hands of landlords".Leaseholders can feel like they have no control over costs for repairs and maintenance of the outside of their 1,000 people contacted the BBC after a BBC investigation about service charges in leasehold blocks last year. Kasia Tarker bought a one-bedroom flat in Southall, West London, in 2022. Her service charge bills have increased from roughly £65 per month in 2022 to more than £200 per month this said she felt helpless and could not afford the charges. "I am going have to try and sell the flat or become homeless, I don't know what I am going to do."FirstPort, who took over management of Kasia's development in 2023, said the "increases in areas such as insurance and health and safety costs" were beyond its said she would like more control over her service charges but the government's commonhold proposals were for new builds, so would not help her in her current situation. Jean Hopkin, another leaseholder who got in touch with the BBC, said the service charge for her three-bedroom flat in Sheffield had increased 356% - from £106 a month to £483 in four years - and was unsellable because of the high charges. Jenny Baker in Southampton is also struggling to find buyers because of "unjustified" service charges that have gone up to £7,200 a year. "The state of the apartment block is just terrible. The windows don't get cleaned and there's black mould on the outside of the building - what on earth am I paying for? "I feel stuck – I can never come out of it. I feel like I have absolutely no control, and it makes me feel really anxious."Rendall & Rittner, which manage Jean and Jenny's buildings, said the company did "not profit from or mark up any costs". According to property company Hamptons, the amount of money leaseholders pay for communal maintenance and services in their building has risen by 11% in England and Wales between 2023 and 2024 to an average of £2, responsible for managing buildings have said a rise in costs can be attributed to legitimate expenses including energy prices and higher inflation rates but many leaseholders felt the costs were unfair. Under the current system, it is the freeholder or landlord that appoints a managing agent. Under a commonhold system, residents would have more autonomy over what they pay and who they appoint to do maintainence, the government said. What is the difference between leasehold and commonhold? A leasehold property reverts to the freeholder after a fixed amount of time. A commonhold property is owned outright, like a freehold commonhold, homeowners have a say on the annual budget for their building. Under the leasehold system, a freeholder or landlord sends a bill to residents for communal costs. The residents will be able to hire and fire a managing is no ground rent charge in a commonhold is not possible under commonhold, meaning a resident cannot be threatened with losing their home. Natalie Chambers, director of the Residential Freehold Association (RFA), said the measures "should not be seen as a trade-off between leasehold and commonhold". "Millions of leaseholders across the country are perfectly content with the tenure and we firmly believe that leasehold is the most effective way of managing large complex apartment building." She added that a commonhold system would mean "residents would face greater financial and legal responsibilities for block maintenance and management". 'Significant step' The National Leasehold Campaign (NLC) said it was "delighted" about the announcement and called today's white paper is a significant step NLC founder Katie Kendrick said it was "paramount" that those currently living in leasehold buildings were not said: "While focusing on preventing future leasehold abuses is crucial, it's equally vital to address the plight of existing leaseholders currently bound by the inequitable leasehold system. "Commonhold conversion mechanisms are essential to offer an escape route for those trapped."Mr Pennycook said the government would "continue to implement reforms to help millions of leaseholders who are currently suffering".Additional reporting by Jade Thompson
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'It costs us £1,400 to park on our own property'
BBC North West Investigations BBC Homeowners found they were being billed £1,400 to park in the spaces that came with their own houses. Residents of Tavington Road and Applewood Grove in Halewood, Merseyside, said while their homes were freehold, their parking spaces were leased and managed by a company called FirstPort. One homeowner has to pay £370 a year just to drive up a 100ft (300m) service road to park on his own driveway. The company told the BBC some "additional fees were mistakenly charged", but the residents said they were unconvinced by the firm's claim they would be given "credit notes" for the extra fees paid. Google The residents paid about £300 for "maintenance" of their parking spaces, but this has more than quadrupled. Greg Morgan, 39, said: "We've all asked repeatedly for copies of the audited accounts to see what the money is being spent on, and we keep getting fobbed off. "It's got to the point now where I'm paying this company as much as two additional mortgage payments a year, people are thinking of selling and leaving here." Some of the residents said they were also being charged for the cost of running a block of flats nearby, even though none of them lived in it. Letters seen by the BBC showed bills for cleaning, maintaining gates and fire safety equipment, carpets and even terrorism insurance for the flats, Applewood Court. The homeowners said they had also received letters warning them about leaving bikes in the hallways. Scott Traynor, 48, said: "The problem is quite clear, they're treating the freehold homes and the leasehold block of flats as the same development, but they're not." Google Applewood Grove resident Mr Traynor said the price he paid for using the service road to get to his own driveway had gone up from £250 in 2007 to about £370 now. He said: "What bothers us all is that we keep getting additional charges and when you ask for details they talk about Applewood Court, which is a separate block of flats." Linda Eccleston, who has lived on Tavington Road for last 18 years, said: "If all the additional fees we've paid are for that small car park, I want to know exactly what has been done to warrant those increases. "I've asked repeatedly for meetings with the site manager, but he hasn't turned up." Graham Perrins, 58, who lives next door to Mr Morgan on Tavington Road, said: "It's got to the point where I've had the conversation with my wife about selling up. "It drives me to despair because I don't know what bill I'm going to expect each year. "I don't know what I'm actually paying for, and I can't get hold of anyone to explain properly." The residents said they were now investigating whether they could raise the money to buy the parking area and operate it themselves. FirstPort told the BBC it managed the homes on Tavington Road, Applewood Grove and the block of flats, Applewood Court, as one development. But it said homeowners "only contributed to cover the general maintenance and insurance of the estate, such as the car park, not any costs associated with the management of the apartment block". FirstPort said fee increases in recent years had been due to rises in the real estate insurance market but said prices were starting to come down now. It added: "This will be reflected in the service charge invoice for the year ending March 2025." The firm said the large additional fees reported by homeowners last year were due to "human error". "This was an isolated occurrence, which is now being rectified," the spokesman said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Halewood Liverpool
