Plymouth Moor View MP Fred Thomas has expressed his anger after an estate management company and housebuilder failed to turn up to discuss complaints from residents at a new estate in Derriford.
UPDATE: 24-07-25: Fred Thomas MP has responded to the quote from FirstPort regarding their absence from the meeting:
“I met with FirstPort on the 9th May face to face in my office. They agreed to attend a residents meeting if I organised one. However, when I followed up to offer several dates, it suddenly appeared that not a single member of their team was available on any of the dates, despite 2 months notice.
I reminded them of their commitment to attend a meeting, informed them of the date it would be going ahead, and kept the invite open. It was their choice not to send someone to the meeting.”
UPDATE 23-07-25: A spokesperson for the management company FirstPort has said:
“We are happy to meet with Mr Thomas and residents at Palmerston Heights, however it was not possible for our team to attend on the date that was proposed. We wrote to Mr Thomas’ office in advance, suggesting a number of alternative dates and times, and were disappointed to see that the meeting went ahead without either our or Persimmon’s attendance.
“Engaging with residents is a key part of our role and we would welcome the opportunity to reschedule the meeting whilst we continue to engage directly with residents at Palmerston Heights.”
The MP called a meeting of residents at Palmerston Heights following a huge number of complaints regarding the estate management company FirstPort and the housebuilder Persimmon Homes, but despite committing to attending a meeting to hear issues directly from residents neither attended.
Mr Thomas first heard of issues with FirstPort managed leasehold properties at Palmerston Heights shortly after being elected last year. They centred on them charging excessive service charges for residents despite failing to complete critical building maintenance and failing to respond to a number of concerns.
Having tried to resolve some of these issues on behalf of residents and not being able to make much progress, Mr Thomas summoned FirstPort and Persimmon management to meetings to discuss the poor service that residents at Palmerston Heights were receiving.
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During those meetings, both companies agreed to attend a residents meeting to address concerns themselves. However, once the meeting was arranged, they informed Mr Thomas that they would not be attending.
The meeting went ahead, with empty chairs either side of Mr Thomas.
Around 40 residents attended and shared horror stories about the service that they have received – damp and cold homes, shoddy maintenance work and excessive service charges. Many residents even reported that they were told they would not be charged a service charge until the estate was completed, but that FirstPort reneged on that commitment as soon as they moved in.
Fred Thomas pointed out that this is not just an issue in Plymouth, and earlier this year FirstPort were hauled in front of MPs in Westminster to explain themselves. Following this meeting, FirstPort were suspended by the UK’s property management trade body.
There are other FirstPort managed estates in Plymouth, and Mr Thomas is planning further meetings in the coming weeks.
Speaking after the meeting the MP, said:
“I was shocked that both FirstPort and Persimmon Homes failed to attend this residents meeting, having previously told me to my face that they would.
“Myself and residents at Palmerston Heights had serious questions for them, and their refusal to attend just highlights how little they care about their leaseholders and residents.
“I will continue to fight on behalf of my residents who are being so badly let down, and do all I can to hold FirstPort and Persimmon to account.
“This isn’t isolated to Plymouth, and I am working with other MPs in Westminster to sort this. These issues won’t just go away.”
