FirstPort/Peverel may be VERY seriously harmful to our elderly people.

coachman12

We had experience of dealing with Peverel with my Mother-in-Law's flat.
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Thank you Madmel. I see the benefits of younger relatives owning the flats in question on behalf of elderly relatives. A good idea. And I am glad that enabled you to stand up to Peverel when they tried their tricks on you. I am also glad that your Mum-in-Law was happy and content. But you must admit, if you read the reviews on TrustPilot, that many elderly people are living in appalling circumstances due to FirstPort/Peverel. Reading the reviews and looking at the websites  ( like   http://www.spanglefish.com/aboutpeverel/news.asp   )

 show a terrible overall situation, though naturally there will be exceptions , and you mention one of them. 
Finally, I would certainly NEVER demean Senior Citizens and have never done so on this site-----I am putting much effort into helping a generation of hard-working and decent citizens who may need help, including a member of my own family who is really finding it as difficult to live with FirstPort/Peverel  as most of the reviewers on TrustPilot are. I think my point about Senior Citizens having less PC knowledge than later generations is just a simple statistical fact, and ,as a lot of power lies in the ability to use PCs, I feel it necessary to mention it. It is one of the factors that FirstPort/Peverel exploit in order to maintain their regime of taking over an over-65s site with an average age of 75-80 ( who are often frail) and tell them what and when works are going to be carried out instead of the other way round------FirstPort should remember that THEY are the "servants" of the residents, not the other way round as they prefer; it is for residents to tell FirstPort if and when works and decorations etc are necessary and not a matter for the arrogant and money-grabbing management company to decide ( just to make money for themselves). And with a recent Bank Loan of £25 million, to be repaid within 5 years, it is a worrying thought as to what lengths FirstPort will be going to in order to squeeze out the money they so desperately need.
Given the website messages of horror from so many elderly flat-owners, it is why all of us who respect their generation should be offering help. 

LilElvis

My grandmother lived in one of these flats from her early 80s until her death at age 99 and her only regret was that she hadn't moved their sooner. Living there allowed her to retain her independence and she had the reassurance of assistance on hand should the need arise. The on-site manager was a wonderful lady who worked tirelessly to provide entertainment, exercise classes, hairdressing services, days out and to foster a friendly community. Her rapid response in a crisis meant that those who fell ill or had falls were dealt with quickly by medical and emergency services - events which could prove catastrophic for those living alone. Of course this service had to be paid for - along with maintaining the common areas, gardens and equipment to a high standard. Both she, and the family, were made aware of the level of service charges prior to purchase and proceeded with the purchase in full knowledge, in the same way that other homebuyers calculate the affordability of running a home. It was a relatively small price compared to the costs of residential care, which my grandmother wanted to avoid if at all possible. No, the property did not really appreciate in value, and certainly not inline with price increases for other types of housing in the area, but that wasn't the reason behind it's purchase - it was to provide a comfortable home and surroundings for my grandmother in her old age, which it did. If it had increased in value at the general market rate it would also have made it unaffordable for many wishing to purchase.

A_Nice_Englishman

Are you here to have a rant about Firstport or to help your relative have the best life she can for her remaining years?

We've suggested why the service charges might appear high and how she and her neighbours might go about negotiating collectively to reduce them or take on the management themselves.

The other thing to look at is maximising income through minimising tax paid or claiming all the benefits she's entitled to. There are other MSE Boards to ask about these.

NeilCr

A_Nice_Englishman said:

Are you here to have a rant about Firstport or to help your relative have the best life she can for her remaining years?

We've suggested why the service charges might appear high and how she and her neighbours might go about negotiating collectively to reduce them or take on the management themselves.

The other thing to look at is maximising income through minimising tax paid or claiming all the benefits she's entitled to. There are other MSE Boards to ask about these.

This

As a general rule people tend to be more vocal/post on places like TrustPilot when they have had a bad experience. So you may want to look for balance

As an example we, as a ManCo have not had a good time with FP to say the least. But others posting here - who are in the same situation - have had no problems. So I would, if I was you coachman, take a  step back and evaluate this whole thread taking particular account of the suggestions made. Keeping banging on about FP and posting links isn't going to help your relative

Best of luck. I hope it works out

Madmel

coachman12 said:

We had experience of dealing with Peverel with my Mother-in-Law's flat.
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Thank you Madmel. I see the benefits of younger relatives owning the flats in question on behalf of elderly relatives. A good idea. And I am glad that enabled you to stand up to Peverel when they tried their tricks on you. I am also glad that your Mum-in-Law was happy and content. But you must admit, if you read the reviews on TrustPilot, that many elderly people are living in appalling circumstances due to FirstPort/Peverel. 
They didn't "try any tricks" with us or MiL.  We simply asked for explanations and were able to question their area people about financial and maintenance decisions.  Some of the other residents were far more clued up and took the lead.  I also take issue with the comments about the house manager.  MiL had experience of 3 of them.  Two were excellent, one was acceptable.  They were educated people, some of whom had been able to retire in their early-mid 50s and wanted a different role.
As (I think) Neil said above, most people aren't going to post on TrustPilot if they are happy or reasonably content, so you are only going to see the worst case scenarios.  Like any purchase, you need to do your due diligence checks, including the service charges and what they cover.  The fact that ours covered a live-in manager, Careline and a lift meant that it would never be cheap.  However, when MiL fell out of bed and was taken to hospital, the Manager was on hand to let the ambulance people in.  When she had concerns about MiL's behaviour, she phoned us to share them.  When MiL died, she was brilliant about us having the wake in the communal lounge and volunteered to serve tea so we could talk to her friends and neighbours.  She organised outside speakers, hairdressing, art classes, outings, Tai Chi etc etc.  MiL was 75 when she moved in and in declining health.  Her experience there, being 10 minutes away from us, seeing her only grandchildren very regularly and living in a warm (tropical!) friendly community massively enhanced her life and we are sure helped to extend it.

Larac

My late Mum had a Mcarthy Stone flat  and First Port were the managing agents.  The residents were sent each quarter a summary of the management accounts and there was a residents meeting where this was discussed. Fair Port tend to remain in situ as many of the residents do want to become involved in the management and you must bear in mind that many are very elderly and frail.   Fairport always seem to be very keen to dip into the pot and get things fixed which should have been sorted by Mcarthy Stone when it was built - eg restructuring of the car park - removal of a tree, changing the front door.  They always seem to be re-decorating or replacing carpets which TBH did not require replacement.  These are a nightmare to sell and often sold at eye watering losses.  One in my Mum's complex sold new at £300K - ten years ago and sold last year at £130K.  She brought when the financial crisis was going on and brought at a much lower rate.  When we sold - the residents were about to be hit with a replacement of the fire alarms system - personally would not buy anything which had First Port attached to it.

isplumm

coachman12 said:

Thank you to Hampshire's FirstPort employee.  Thanks.

Wow - don't like what you hear, so accuse someone who has 2.k posts to be an employee of the company ... NeilCr & Eddddy have shown you want to do ...

Mark

LilElvis

Please:
Stop reposting the same links repeatedly
Post your entry below the one you are quoting, so it doesn't become embedded in the quote.
Ask the moderators to move the thread to the Praise, Vent and Warning board which is better suited.

NeilCr

Honestly, now what you are doing is counter productive

You came on here for help with  dealing with a particular situation. Suggest you concentrate on that as opposed to reposting the same old links

coachman12

NeilCr said:

Honestly, now what you are doing is counter productive

You came on here for help with  dealing with a particular situation. Suggest you concentrate on that as opposed to reposting the same old links
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As you are currently taking legal action against the injustices of FirstPort/Peverel, Neil, I will not re-post the links as part of this particular posting, just as a favour to you. Thank you.
But the more people who read the links that I will keep posting as necessary, the more your own case is strengthened as people learn why you are taking legal action. Good Luck.