The controversial FirstPort Retirement managing agent has been admitted into the Association of Residential Managing Agents
FirstPort, formerly Peverel, was responsible for systematically cheating pensioners in retirement sites which resulted in an Office of Fair Trading ruling of bid rigging in December 2014.
The scandal involved its subsidiary Cirrus competing for expensive electronic door entry systems against stooge companies which always ended up more expensive.
The feeble OFT inquiry resulted in no one being punished, although Peverel / FirstPort made a “gesture of goodwill” payment of £100,000 into the contingency funds of the ripped-off 65 sites.
BetterRetirementHousing.com and LKP have long suspected that FirstPort Retirement – the name change to FirstPort was thanks to our efforts – would be admitted to ARMA.
FirstPort is the biggest property management company in the country with 160,000 flats under management.
Peverel was once a modest Hampshire estate agent which took over the management of McCarthy and Stone sites and made its fortune.
It was owned by Vincent Tchenguiz’s interests until his wrongful arrest in February 2011 by the Serious Fraud Office.
It owns a portfolio of house manager’s flats on leases created in 2009 for not very good reason at all.
We have repeatedly questioned the lawfulness of this portfolio, but never had a very adequate explanation of why it exists.
Here are some highlights:
How a wartime squadron leader, 94, downed Peverel – Better Retirement Housing
Eric Matthews, dealing with irritants aged 94 Interview with Eric Matthews on the Channel Four website During the Second World War, when Eric Matthews, 94, was an RAF squadron leader, he was used to chalking up downed enemy aircraft. Now he is celebrating another victory over a lesser adversary: Peverel, which has had to pay back £11,475.34p.
The Peverel / Cirrus price-fixing story so far: – Better Retirement Housing
2005 to 2009 Peverel cheats pensioners at 65 site by installing Cirrus equipment through bogus tendering – Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation alerts police, SFO and OFT, and The Times publishes article on December 4 2009 – But Office of Fair Trading gives Peverel “leniency” for turning itself in at some point in December 2009 – OFT starts investigation a leisurely 18 months later – July 2013 OFT admits the leniency deal with Peverel.
If Peverel Retirement is admitted to ARMA-Q, what message does that send thousands of cheated pensioners? – Better Retirement Housing
Ten months after being found guilty by the OFT of systematically cheating residents in retirement sites, Peverel Retirement is now lining up to join ARMA-Q. This is the new ethically enhanced membership scheme that ARMA hopes will demonstrate greater professional rigour in leasehold management.
Related posts:
ARMA rules against FirstPort Retirement …
ARMA to rule on admitting scandal-hit FirstPort Retirement
Peverel Retirement up before the ARMA regulator before it can join ARMA-Q
If Peverel Retirement is admitted to ARMA-Q, what message does that send thousands of cheated pensioners?
Cooee! Peverel becomes FirstPort and heading for ARMA-Q … But will it be welcome?
Leasehold Roadshow heads for Leeds on February 27
Mama Mia Sante Maria ????????????????
From what I have read / heard about “Peverel “ and their shonky employees , my flabber is gasted !!!! Talk about taking the p#ss
Cannot wait to read what Master Epstein has to say about this turn of events…..
In the meantime, I am off a “ charidee do’ to disabuse the “ Hostesses” .
I feel the need to do behave in such a way because I am not blessed in the downstairs department “. Tee hee.
( I am just amusing myself folks whilst listening to a wonderful cello concerto)
However, we all know it has a ring of truth- DON’ T YOU? (
Couldn’t be bothered to edit,
Excuse me . I must edit. In meant that I was off to a Charidee “ event”to abuse the “ Hostesses”… I was listening to acShostakovich Symphony and wasn’t really paying attention to my posting… C’mon , Shostakovich versus Property spivs – who gets the attention????
Has the imposition of what is believed to be the largest ever fine for Health & Safety breaches( £360,000 plus £100,000 costs after a substantial discount for pleading guilty) in relation to the fatal fire at Gibson Court become a requisite to attain membership of ARMA?
Go figure . This decision by ARMA seems really quite extraordinary. However is it really that extraordinary given ARMAS previous decisions.??.
It seems that the lunatics truly have taken over the asylum. GAWD HELP US ALL..
Gat Letting & Estate agents and Property manager in Bolton. We take all the excellent local customer service you would expect from a traditional agent and we offer this to you at internet prices.
Imagine how a fellow member company of ARMA that actually does have high standards and provides a cost effective, honest service to leaseholders and are not carrying millions of pounds of debt must feel to realise that they have been bracketed as having the same standards as Firstport?
They should cancel their subscription. Who once said “ I would never become a member of a club that would have me”. I think it was Marx. Groucho not Karl.