Residents at St Clements Lakes successfully removed the management company after bills nearly doubled before Christmas
A property management firm has been shown the door and ousted from yet another Kent estate after allegedly almost doubling residents’ bills just before the festive season.
St Clements Lakes in Greenhithe has been under the stewardship of FirstPort since it took over the reins from DJS in 2023.
However, the company didn’t issue bills to the residents of the estate, located near Bluewater Shopping Centre, until November of last year.
On most newly built estates, residents collectively foot the bill for a management company’s services. These services can range from routine repairs to ensuring health and safety compliance and maintaining the grounds.
But when FirstPort finally presented the homeowners in St Clements Lakes with their seasonal list of charges, they were informed of a “slight rise”.
“They told us about 13%”, revealed Gary Clements, a resident of the estate. “The bill almost doubled from just over £700 to just under £1,300. We knew something wasn’t right so I did some rough sums and I worked out they were massively overcharging.
“There was something completely wrong but they just wouldn’t listen every time I told them there was a problem.”
FirstPort maintains that all fees cover the “actual cost of maintaining a development”, adding that it takes concerns “seriously” and ensures residents are forewarned about when bills will arrive, with options available for those “struggling”.
Management companies typically operate under varying payment structures, but residents at St Clements Lakes were required to settle bills in single lump sums.
“They issued it in late November and told us we had about 28 days to pay, which was, you know, brilliant for somewhere with so many families right at Christmas time,” Mr Clements added. “It’s just ridiculous.”
According to Mr Clements, numerous maintenance issues stemming from “general wear and tear” had been neglected, including a filthy lake, a collapsing gazebo roof, overgrown grass and overflowing bins, leaving the development looking “a bit tired”.
This February, Mr Clements joined fellow residents in their efforts to dismiss FirstPort from its role managing the estate.
“They actually revoked the bills almost, you know, immediately after I pointed out [the overcharge] and threatened them a little bit,” he explained.
“We managed to actually give FirstPort their marching orders,” he added, with the company set to depart the estate this month.
Their duties are now being assumed by XL Property Ltd, which Stuart Grist established following ongoing difficulties with the management company at his own block of flats, also located in Greenhithe.
“The residents reached out to us, they had a really good level of engagement across the estate, but they weren’t really sure how to displace FirstPort,” he explained.
“They wanted to gain control of the estate themselves, and we were able to give them some advice, and sort of mentor them through that process.”
By law, residents have the right to select their own management firms by organising the services themselves, although this can be a challenging process.
Earlier this year, residents of Unicorn Walk in Greenhithe also decided to replace the firm, sparking a series of similar actions by other residents against their management companies across the region.
XL has offered residents of St Clement’s Lakes the option to make monthly payments instead of paying in one lump sum.
“If I look at the estates that we’ve taken over from management companies, typically we’re saving between 15% and 50%,” stated Mr Grist.
“It does go to show that a number of estates across the whole of Kent are paying excessive fees and they’re not getting value for money.”
A spokesperson for FirstPort said: “We take these matters being raised by residents seriously and recognise the impact that complex or ongoing issues can have.
“Where concerns arise, we work directly with customers to understand the detail, resolve problems as quickly as possible and provide regular updates on progress. Service charges cover the actual cost of maintaining a development, including repairs, compliance, and on-site services.
“They are not a source of profit, and we do not take commissions or referral fees from contractors. Service charges are apportioned to cover the maintenance of the block and surrounding grounds that benefit each customer.
“The service charge year-end has always been December, which residents are aware of so they can plan throughout the year. However, we do offer payment plan options if residents are struggling to pay.”
