It has been a Firstport inspired, grim time for elderly residents living at Benstede Court, Hoddesdon and Hermitage Court in Plymouth.
Residents found themselves trapped in their flats due to the failure of the lift at these developments.
At Benstede Court the lift was out of action for 12 days before being repaired. Friends and relatives had to bring in food supplies to the trapped residents.
A Firstport representative said "We take the welfare of our residents very seriously. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused. This was due to "exceptional circumstances and an investigation would be launched into the delay in fixing the lift."
In the case of Hermitage Court the lift was out for 25 days.
According to Firstport, this was" due to having to wait for a specialist engineer to inspect the fault and having to repair a part off site."
Even if the distress caused to residents is discounted (imagine being stuck in a small flat for 25 days?) in so many cases it is the case that once the elderly stop moving around, their physical condition rapidly declines.
