Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, has convened a meeting with the property management company FirstPort regarding Risingholme Court in Heathfield.
Risingholme Court residents have long suffered from poor service, high services charges of £8000 + p.a and thousands of pounds have been wiped off the value of their properties. A typical apartment bought for around £200,000 in 2012 is on the market at the moment with an asking price of around £60,000*
Risingholme Court is an assisted living facility comprising 47 apartments and managed by FirstPort, who provide services such as catering, cleaning service and onsite warden. However, over the past few years there have been ongoing issues regarding flat occupancy and service charge collection from leaseholders. This then resulted in increased charges to the property residents and little or no means for necessary maintenance projects and unforeseen expenditure.
Nusrat has convened a meeting with FirstPort’s Regional Manager and Head of Operations to discuss the matter further, press them to progress it urgently and improve communication with residents. It is hoped that there will be some significant improvement in the management of the facility.
Nusrat Ghani said: “There are many people in Sussex Weald who live in managed retirement properties and they should feel safe and secure in their homes as well as receive appropriate levels of service. I recognise the complicated nature of this case and I’m aware that the issues at Risingholme Court have been going on for some time. I welcome assurances from FirstPort management that as per their commitment, a review of the service charges at Risingholme Court is underway and that work is ongoing to find a resolution to the issues. I understand that FirstPort is in regular contact with the residents’ association, and I will continue to follow the matter closely and provide assistance and representation to individual residents, where required.”
The original press release is available here.
