MP grills management company FirstPort for their failings on estates like Redhouse Park in Milton Keynes.
At a meeting of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Chris rigorously questioned the Managing Director of FirstPort. In his line of questioning, he said “Because of the way this sector is set up, because there’s no real competition, because it’s so hard to get rid of you when you’re not performing your duty, that gate hasn’t been fixed for 8 years, and you still seem to be making millions of pounds of dividends for your shareholders. It seems like you’re milking the system, doesn’t it?”
In a tense interaction, the FirstPort Managing Director indicated they were making changes, but was aware they “don’t get it right all of the time”, to which Chris responded, “some of the time would be nice.”
Since being elected in July 2024, Chris has been vocal and active in challenging the issues residents experience with management companies, including holding a public meeting with local people in Redhouse Park to hear their experiences - many of which, Chris says, do not match the claims of FirstPort at the committee. Alongside this, Chris has been working with the Government to end the ‘fleecehold’ system entirely, and deliver national reform on the issue.
Chris said, “Too many residents in Milton Keynes are stuck in a broken system of saving for years to buy a home, then having to pay extortionate fees to management companies who don’t deliver the services expected and aren't held accountable. It simply isn’t right, and while I’m working to end this system nationally, I’m also holding these companies to account now for their complete and utter failure to deliver for residents in our city.”
Chris’s interaction with the Managing Director has been viewed over 70,000 times on social media. You can view the video here: https://fb.watch/AjCUjaD9ya/
