So, hands up who believed that Firstport were acting in the interests of saving residents money when they suggested changing from a residential to a visiting house manager?
In fact house manager's flats were systemically targeted by Firstport to "encourage" residents to vote for a change in order to allow Firstport to sell the leaseholds on the house manager's flats?
Among the targetted developments were Home Laurel House, Homecrest House,Willow Court, Homegarth House, Home Paddoock House,St Pauls Court, Grove House, Lynway Court.
Attached to each development were strictly confidential notes.
House Manager due to retire, may possibly consider an incentive.
House Manager has alternative accommodation, may possibly consider an incentive.
House Manager wants to change to visiting
House Manager wants to move to the South.
Peverel/Firstport received a reprimand from ARHM and ARMA for failing to declare that they held a financial interest in the house manager's flats, and for failing to declare the incentives being offered to staff (running into several thousand pounds) to residents.
That such a meagre penalty was handed out by ARHM and ARMA may be down to Firstport having senior members of staff sitting on the governing bodies of ARHM and ARMA?
To prevent Firstport collapsing into administration 275 leaseholds on house manager's flats were sold and leased back.
Firstport needs to reduce their rental costs, so staff are being put under pressure to "persuade" residents to change to visiting house manager so that the house manager's flat can be rented out on the open market?
For those that may be tempted to save a few bob on the service charges by changing to a visiting house manager, it should be noted that any savings are short lived. Firstport always seem to find a way to increase charges?
Indeed it has been claimed that the average saving is under £4 per week!
Against that, residents have a loss of amenity and even worse, not having the benefit of a residential house manager reduces the value of their flats by several thousand pounds.
