An MP has demanded immediate action over ‘deeply concerning’ service from a leaseholder company.
Last Thursday, a group of MPs met to share feedback from residents on FirstPort’s service provision, the UK’s largest property management company.
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Suffolk Coastal’s MP, said she was ‘deeply concerned’ about complaints from constituents in Felixstowe relating to excessive service charges and poor service standards.
Last Thursday, a group of MPs met to share feedback from residents on FirstPort’s service provision. Picture: Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
She added: “Leaseholders should not be left to suffer from unaffordable hikes and neglectful management.
“It is vital that FirstPort take immediate action to improve transparency, address these grievances, and ensure that residents are treated fairly.”
FirstPort is contracted by freeholders to carry out maintenance work in properties inhabited by leaseholders who own their own flats.
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Suffolk Coastal MP, said she was ‘deeply concerned’ about complaints from constituents in Felixstowe. Picture. Parliament
During the meeting, she revealed, Martin King, FirstPort’s managing director, agreed to meet with residents to hear their concerns directly.
A spokesperson from The FirstPort Group thanked MPs for their ‘valuable contributions’.
They said: “The meeting with MPs allowed for meaningful discussions about the changes and challenges affecting our industry — it also provided an opportunity to highlight the improvements we are making to better serve our customers.
“We listened to the concerns raised by MPs and we are committed to responding to the requests raised in the meeting, as well as working with the MPs on a longer-term basis to demonstrate how the changes we are making at FirstPort will improve services.”
Ms Riddell-Carpenter added more still needed to be done to hold property management companies accountable and fight for a fairer leasehold system.