RESIDENTS of a housing estate have told Jayne Kirkham, MP for Truro and Falmouth, that they're "encouraged" and that there is "cautious optimism amongst residents" after she mediated a meeting with under-fire executives from FirstPort, the UK’s leading property management company, over the holiday period.

Ms Kirkham chaired meetings with residents from two estates and two FirstPort representatives, the south west operations director and senior associate director.

The meetings were followed by a speech from Ms Kirkham in Parliament during a debate held by Caroline Voaden, MP for South Devon, on the poor business practices of residential estate management companies, shining more light on the nationwide issue of what has become known as "fleecehold".

Speaking during the debate, Ms Kirkham said that the Easter recess meetings gave residents a chance to ask questions about repairs that had not been done and service charges that they felt were not transparent and that the officers from FirstPort dealt with queries openly and constructively. However, she added, it was frustrating that it took her intervention for that to happen.

During the Easter holiday meetings numerous issues were raised by residents.

Residents from Lowen Bre, Truro, cited numerous concerns including patchy communication with the property manager; a service charge hike of 30 per cent in the past year; and FirstPort charging residents for a parking enforcement scheme without agreement.

Residents from Boscawen Woods cited a 22 per cent increase to service charge in 2024; a lack of maintenance with grass upkeep the sole annual commitment; issues with guttering, the resident letterbox, and carport ceilings; and being quoted £12,000 for the removal of a pine tree.

FirstPort acknowledged the need for better communication and agreed to support setting up a residents' group. FirstPort also promised to put the asset management plan - which will identify maintenance that needs doing on the property, set a time period, and costings - on to a 'portal' accessible by all residents. They also said that residents could call the property manager at anytime about any issues.

Ms Kirkham said: "Residents of FirstPort managed estates do not deserve to live in constant worry, where reasonable issues raised with management are met with a lack of communication, broken promises, minimal maintenance, and rising unexplained service charges."

"I am pleased with how the meetings went. They were broadly productive and because FirstPort were willing to listen things are starting to happen. I will continue to support residents."

The meetings were initiated by Nicola Kinniburgh, a resident at Boscawen Woods, who said: “I’ve seen the state of the estate deteriorate, and issues being ignored over the five years I have lived here, while charges have only increased. Jayne Kirkham’s intervention has, without a doubt, pressured FirstPort who have already addressed simple grounds maintenance for the first time in many many months."

"This, and the meeting with FirstPort managers, has resulted in a new feeling of very cautious optimism amongst residents. We have seen the green shoots of change, but I remain sceptical of the company’s motivations."