 On Thursday 10th April, over 200 residents from Gower and Swansea West gathered at Swansea Guild Hall to confront FirstPort, one of the biggest property management companies in the UK, over their substandard service and poor treatment of residents. What we heard from residents was honestly shocking. People spoke about urgent repairs being ignored for over a year, buildings left without fire alarms, front doors broken for nearly two years, and correspondence going completely unanswered. One resident shared that they still do not have a Development Manager after nine months, yet they are still being charged for one. It was clear from every story that these issues go beyond neglected maintenance or substandard cleaning services. They are so much more than that and they affecting people’s health, their finances, and their quality of life. No-one should be made to feel like this in their own home. Firstport should never have let things deteriorate to this point but residents made it crystal clear they have had enough. They are tired of broken promises, rising service charges, and poor service. This meeting was an opportunity to bring those concerns right to the top and make sure FirstPort hears them directly. I welcome that FirstPort were at least willing to accept responsibility for falling short, though that is little consolation to the residents who are understandably aggrieved. What matters now is not just words, but meaningful action to put things right. I want to thank everyone who took the time to come, especially those who stood up and bravely shared their personal experiences. This meeting was a powerful display of community unity and I will continue standing with you and fighting for proper accountability. You deserve better from FirstPort. Torsten summed it up well when he said: “Residents sent a clear message to FirstPort — they’ve had enough of soaring bills and shoddy service, which have caused real distress. I’m very pleased to have made this meeting happen for Swansea residents, because it was about time the company came face to face with the people it has failed. FirstPort acknowledged its poor performance and claimed changes are being made. But promises alone are not enough, so I’ll keep fighting on this issue until we see real change. This is about more than one housing company — it’s about fixing a system that leaves too many people at the mercy of firms like FirstPort.” If you are also affected by FirstPort’s management and didn’t get a chance to attend, please do email me at [email protected]. Comments are closed.
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